
Glass. 



Book± 



X 






Qro^, "^OHnJ 



THE 



WAR 



WARRIORS; 



CO>!PRISIN( 



A COMPLETE HISTORY OF ALL THE OPERATIONS OF THE 
AMERICAN ARMIES IN MEXICO : 



WITH 

J 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES ANT) ANECDOTES OF THE MOST < 

DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS IN THE REGULAR '. 

ARMY AND THE VOLUNTEER FORCE. j 




PHILADELPHIA: "" 

HOGAN & THOMPSON. 

1848. 



^^ 



6 






Entered according to Act of Congi-ess, in the year 1848, 

BY HOGAN & THOMPSON, 

In the office of the Clerk of the District Court of the United States, in and 
for the Eastern District of Pennsvlvauia. 



George Chables, Stebeotyper. 



PHEFACE. 

The present contest between the United States 
and Mexico has called forth the mihtary energies 
of this country, and has led to displays of valour 
and military science which have astonished the 
whole civilized world. In a succession of bat- 
tles, sieges, marches, and skirmishes, lasting 
through a period of nineteen months, the arms 
of the United States have been uniformly tri- 
umphant. Wherever our armies have met the 
enemy they have conquered. 

Of such a contest the history cannot but prove 
interesting to the whole body of the American 
people. The scattered details which have been 
furnished by the public journals, although they 
have served to allay anxiety for the moment, are 
quite insufficient to satisfy the lively curiosity 
which such events are well calculated to awaken. 
" A round unvarnished tale" of the whole progress 
of the war is necessary to form a portion of the 
historical library of every family; and it is due to 
the heroic officers and men who have served in 
this war, that their claims to the gratitude of their 

(5) 



PREFACE. 



country should be distinctly recorded and pre- 
served in a permanent form. 

It is with these views that the following his- 
tory, and the biographical sketches which accom- 
pany it, have been written. The author's aim 
has been to do justice to all, and he hopes that 
this intention will atone for any imperfections to 
which this, in common with every work of its 
class, is necessarily liable. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Bombardment of Vera Cruz, (Frontispiece) 

Ornamental Headpiece, _---..- 9 

Point Isabel, - ....... 28 

Fort Brown, ---.--.---33 

Battle of Palo Alto, 41 

American army entering Marin, - - - - - - 69 

Bishop's Palace, -.-.-... 73 

Cavalry Charge, .-...-«-- §7 

Storming of the Bishop's Palace, ... - - 93 

Paredes, -..99 

Santa Anna, ---.----- 101 

Battle of Buena Vista, - - - - - - - - 107 

Death of Colonel Clay, 117 

Commencement of the Guerilla Warfare, - - - - - 125 

American fleet saluting the castle at Vera Ouz ... 141 

Battle of Cerro Gordo, 147 

Jalapa, 152 

Northern extremity of Puebla de los Angelos, - - - - 163 

General Butler, .-----.«- 166 
Battle of Churubusco, - - - - - - - -175 

The City of Mexico, 183 

Chapultepec, - - - - - - - - -191 

Capture of Tuspan, - - . 208 

Capture of Panuco, - - - - - - - -212 

Loss of the Somers, .-,----- 215 

General Taylor, 224 

Headpiece, - --...--. 225 

General Worth, - 238 

Worth at Monterey, 239 

Storming of Federation Hill, ------- 242 

View from Tacubaya, -------- 247 

Headpiece, ^- .-------- 255 

Headpiece,- -.------. 259 

Tailpiece, 264 

Headpiece, --------. 265 

(7) 



VIU LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Headpiece, ---------- 271 

Street fight at Monterey, 273 

General Kearny, 280 

Headpiece, --------- 281 

Headpiece, - --------- 285 

Colonel McCulIoch, 292 

Headpiece, 293 

Captain Walker, --- 298 

Headpiece, 299 

Colonel Hays, 304 

Headpiece, ---------- 305 

Headpiece, --------- 311 

General Scott, - - - - - - - - -314 

Headpiece, ------- - 315 



THE WAR. 



Though several sub- 
jects of dispute existed 
between this country and 
Mexico, previous to the 
annexation of Texas, yet 
the latter event Was the 
immediate cause of the 
war between the two 
countries. As soon as 
Mexico understood that 
a project of union was 
entertained between the 
United States and Texas, 
she endeavoured to de- 
feat it ; and when the 
act was consummated, 
her minister protested 
against it as " an act of 
(9) 



10 THE WAR. 

Annexation of Texas. 

aggression the most unjust which can be found re- 
corded in the annals of modern history ; namely, that 
of despoiling a friendly nation, like Mexico, of a consi- 
derable portion of her territory." Immediately after, 
the minister demanded his passports, and from that time 
all efforts at amicable negotiation have failed. 

On the 21st of March, 1845, orders were issued for 
General Zachary Taylor, commandant at Fort Jessup, 
Louisiana, to prepare his forces for marching into Texas, 
whenever orders to that purpose should be issued. The 
reasons for this were given by President Polk in his mes- 
sage of December, 1845. " Both the congress and the 
convention of the people of Texas, invited this govern- 
ment to send an army into their territory to protect and 
defend them against a menaced attack. The moment 
the terms of annexation offered by the United States 
were accepted by Texas, the latter became so far a part 
of our country as to make it our duty to afford such pro- 
tection and defence. I therefore deemed it proper, as a 
precautionary measure, to order a strong squadron to 
the coasts of Mexico, and to concentrate an efficient 
military force on the western frontier of Texas." 

Agreeably to instructions received from government. 
General Taylor concentrated his forces at Corpus Christi, 
in the eastern part of Texas. Here he remained until 
March, 1846, when he received from the president 
orders to the following effect : 

" Instructions have been issued to the general in com- 
mand to occvipy the left bank of the Del Norte. This 
river which is the south-west boundary of the state of 
Texas, is an exposed frontier. From this quarter inva- 
sion was threatened ; upon it, and in its immediate 



THE WAR. 11 



Taylor leaves Corpus Christi. 



vieinity, in the judgment of high military experience, 
are the proper stations for the protecting forces of the 
government. In addition to this important considera- 
tion, several others have occurred to induce this move- 
ment. Among these are the facilities afforded by the 
ports at Brazos Santiago, and the mouth of the Del 
Norte, for the reception of supplies by sea ; the stronger 
and more healthful military positions ; the convenience 
for obtaining a ready and a more abundant supply of 
provisions, water, fuel, and forage ; and the advantages 
which are afforded by the Del Norte, in forwarding sup- 
plies to such ports as may be established in the interior, 
and upon the Indian frontier." General Taylor left 
Corpus Christi on the 11th of March, and marched to- 
ward the Rio Grande.* The troops marched through a 
sandy desert, infested by venomous reptiles, until they 

* In this march, says a late writer, the army encountered the most 
appalling hardships, both from the heat of the sandy deserts over which 
they passed, and the want of food and water. The discipline acquired 
in camp, where large portions of the troops had for the first time an op- 
portunity of seeing and learning the evolutions of the line, was here 
amply tested ; and it should be recorded to the honour of the soldiers, 
that throughout their whole march they bore their hardships with pa- 
tience and cheerfulness. 

The sufferings on this march were rendered the more painful by con- 
trast with the agreeable sojourn of the army at Corpus Christi, which is 
described by Captain Henry in his entertaining Campaign Sketches, as 
one of the most dehghtful regions in the world. « From the top of the 
bluff," he says, " the view is magnificent in the extreme. Far off to the 
east the scene was bounded by the white caps of the beautiful bay ; to the 
south-east, the Flower Bluffs stood out in bold reUef ; in the north-east, 
the distant highlands of Maylone's Bluff were dimly visible ; to the north- 
west, the land near the mouth of the Nueces; in the west, one unlimited 
plain presented itself, extending to the mountains, the home of the mus- 
tang and bufTalo." 



12 THE WAR. 



Crosses the Colorado. 



reached the Arroya Colorado, thirty miles eastward of 
the Rio Grande. On the opposite bank of this river a 
body of soldiers and rancheros w^as stationed, apparently 
for the purpose of disputing the passage. This place 
was favourable for opposing the passage of the army, 
and General Taylor expected that war was now about to 
begin. He made his preparations for crossing, however, 
but soon after received a message from the governor of 
Matamoras, stating that an attempt to cross the Colorado 
woul 1 be considered a signal for w^ar. 

Notwithstanding these warlike demonstrations. Gene- 
ral Taylor crossed the river in face of the foe. He 
experienced no opposition, although an excellent oppor- 
tunity was ajflforded from the position in which the Mexi- 
cans were stationed. 

Being thus unexpectedly delivered from a disagreeable 
collision, General Taylor spent a day in refreshing his 
troops, and then [March 22d] resumed his march for 
the Rio Grande. On the 24th, news was received that 
the Mexicans had taken possession of Point Isabel, on 
the Brazos Santiago, which place the general had pre- 
viously selected as a military depot. Knowing the ad- 
vantages to be derived from this station. General Taylor 
determined to occupy it ; and accordingly, leaving his 
main army with General Worth on the Matamoras road, 
he pushed toward the Brazos w^ith the dragoons and 
artillery train. When near the place, he was met by the 
prefect of Tamaulipas, and other citizens, who pro- 
tested against the occupation of their territory, and inti- 
mated that their government considered it a declara- 
tion of war. While General Taylor was considering 
this protestation, he observed a column of smoke in the 



THE WAR. 13 



Excitement in Matamoraa. 



direction of Point Isabel, and conjecturing that the 
Mexicans had fired it, he dismissed the prefect, with 
the promise of an answer when the Americans would 
arrive near Matamoras. Colonel Twiggs was sent for- 
ward with the dragoons to stop the conflagration, and 
arrest those who had caused it. He found the station 
deserted by the soldiery and many of the citizens, and 
succeeded in saving a few of the burning houses. Gene- 
ral Taylor arrived soon after, and commenced the con- 
struction of a fortification subsequently known as Fort 
Polk. Major John Munroe w^as intrusted with the com- 
mand. Six brass six-pounders, two long eighteens, 
large quantities of powder and ball with about four 
hundred and fifty men, were left for its defence. 

Having completed such other arrangements as were 
thought necessary, in order to guard against attack. Ge- 
neral Taylor continued his march with the main army, 
and reached the Rio Grande opposite Matamoras on the 
28th. 

At the first appearance of the American army the 
city of Matamoras was thrown into the greatest excite- 
ment. Exaggerated reports both of its strength and 
intentions had preceded its coming ; and our troops 
w^ere regarded as lawless banditti, whose sole intention 
was spoil and plunder. In a few days, however, this 
feeling seems to have subsided ; the good behaviour of 
the American troops dissipated previous fears ; and the 
citizens at least became willing to wait for the result 
of the natural course of events, rather than immediately 
rush upon the American army, as was at first their 
intention. 

The Americans were now situated in a beautiful coun- 

2 



14 THE WAR. 



Description of the Country. 



try — the more grateful after their fatiguing march. "Far 
as the eye can reach," says a volunteer, ^' one level sur- 
face presents itself to viev^^, dotted with cotton and sugar- 
cane fields, interspersed with lovely gardens after the 
Spanish fashion, the whole cut up and divided in all 
sorts of ways, by groves of the finest trees, among which 
the lignum vitse figures largely ; and the entire picture 
is cut in twain by the muddiest, crookedest, and swiftest 
river in North America. Neither mountain, hill, nor 
elevation of any sort, varies the everlasting level of the 
country around. The scene is rich and peaceful, with 
nought to mar its appropriate character save the armies 
of the two nations. Our nights here, for the most part, 
are remarkable for their serenity. The stars stand forth 
in numerous crowds, with rare brilliancy ; not a leaf is 
moved, not a cloud is seen ; while ever and anon a me- 
teor of surpassing brightness shoots across the azure 
vault." 

When the army reached the Rio Grande, and had 
planted the American flag upon its banks. General 
Worth crossed to the Mexican side, in order to have an 
interview with the city authorities, and deliver to them 
despatches from General Taylor. He was met by Gene- 
ral la Vega, the Licenciado Casares, Juan Garza, an 
interpreter, and two officers, who had been appointed 
by the authorities to confer with him. After consider- 
able altercation, the reception of the despatches was 
refused, and a like result attended a request for an in- 
terview with the American consul. Worth then returned 
to the camp. 

Afler this event, the Mexicans, withheld all supplies 
from General Taylor, and commenced the erection of 



THE WAR. 15 



Mexican Proclaiuation Inviting Deserters. 



batteries and fortifications opposite his position. He 
had previously begun the construction of a fort, intended 
to defend his camp and afford a depot for such stores as 
would be drawn from time to time from Point Isabel. 
A gloom now settled over both armies, and speculations 
upon a dark and uncertain future filled the mind of both 
friend and foe. 

The following proclamation of " The commander-in- 
chief of the Mexican army, to the English and Irish 
under the orders of the American General Taylor," was 
distributed in the American camp, in the early part of 
April. It was the first display of that unmanly craft, 
for which the Mexicans seem to be characteristically 
adapted : 

" Know ye : — That the government of the United 
States is committing repeated acts of barbarous aggres- 
sion against the magnanimous Mexican nation ; that the 
government which exists under the flag of the stars, is 
unworthy of the designation of Christian. Recollect 
that you were born in Great Britain ; that the American 
government looks with coldness upon the powerful flag 
of St. George, and is provoking to a rupture the war- 
like people to whom it belongs. President Polk boldly 
manifesting a desire to take possession of Oregon, as he 
already has done of Texas. Now, then, come with all 
confidence to the Mexican ranks ; and I guarantee to 
you upon my honour, good treatment, and that all your 
expenses shall be defrayed until your arrival in the 
beautiful capital of Mexico. 

" Germans, French, Poles, and individuals of all na- 
tians! Separate yourselves from the Yankees, and do 
not contribute to defend a robbery and usurpation, which, 



16 THE WAR. 



State of Taylor's Forces. 



be assured, the civilized nations of Europe look upon 
with the utmost indignation. Come, therefore, and ar- 
ray yourselves under the tricoloured flag, in the confi- 
dence that the God of armies protects, and that it will 
protect you equally with the English." 

This inglorious appeal was not unattended with suc- 
cess. Several desertions took place, until it became 
necessary to issue orders to shoot every soldier, who 
should attempt this crime. Two or three being thus 
dealt with, the evil was stopped. 

The situation of the two armies became every day more 
critical. By order of General Taylor, strong guards of 
foot and mounted men were established on the margin 
of the river, for the purpose of preventing all inter- 
course. The Mexican pickets extended above and 
below his camp for several miles, but were watched by 
strong and vigilant guard, so as to prevent the possibility 
of surprise under disadvantageous circumstances. A 
field-work was also erected, together with a strong bat- 
tery, a number of buildings for the security of supplies, 
and several respectable works for their protection. 
Fronting each other, for an extent of more than two 
miles, were batteries shotted, within range of each other, 
and watched by officers and men who were impatiently 
waiting for orders to apply their matches. 

But both armies still seemed unwilling to interrupt 
the peace which had ever existed between the two re- 
publics. Neither army was very well prepared for 
active hostilities. Taylor's entire force was small, sepa- 
rated into two portions, and ill provided with artillery 
and ammunition ; the Mexicans were waiting for rein- 



THE WAR. 17 



Muxder of Colonel Cross. 



forcements, both of men and supplies, and were uncer- 
tain as to a proper point of attack. 

On the 10th of April, an event occurred, which, on 
account of its being the first of the kind, created great 
sensation in the American camp. This was the death 
of Colonel Truman Cross. Early in the morning he 
had ridden into the country, to his usual exercise, but 
did not return at his customary time. As the country 
was known to be infested v/ith plunderers and ranche- 
ros, his non-appearance caused much uneasiness in 
camp, and several parties were despatched in quest of 
him. General Taylor then wrote to the commandant of 
Matamoras upon the subject, but that officer disclaimed 
all knowledge of his fate, and the army was left to the 
most painful conjectures. This continued until the 21st, 
when a Mexican strolled into camp, and stated that the 
body of an American soldier was lying in the chaparral 
at some distance. A party was immediately sent with 
him, and, among some thick bushes, they found a body, 
which, by fragments of the dress and several other 
marks, was recognized as the remains of Colonel Cross. 
The spot was a short distance from a road leading to the 
river. He had been deprived of his watch, pistols, and 
clothing, and the flesh was picked off his body by the 
vultures. The account given of his death by a Mexi- 
can appears worthy of credit. He stated that he was 
taken by a band of lawless Mexican soldiers, commanded 
by Romano Falcon, who murdered him with his own 
hands, after he had been robbed, although his band were 
in favour of taking him a prisoner to Matamoras. Ge- 
neral Taylor caused the body to be interred with full 
military honours. 

B 2* 



18 



THE WAR. 



Correspondence between Taylor and Anapudia. 



On the 11th, the arrival of General Ampudia in Mata- 
moras, caused many demonstrations of joy on the part 
of the citizens and soldiers in that city, and the 
Americans expected an early attack. On the following 
day, however, General Ampudia sent a messenger to 
General Taylor with a despatch, requiring him, "in all 
form and at the latest in the peremptory term of twenty- 
four hours, to break up his camp and retire beyond the 
Neuces," assuring him, that in the event of a refusal, 
arms, and arms alone, must decide the question," and 
advising him that, in that case, the Mexicans accepted 
the war to which he provoked them. 

General Taylor in reply to this letter, informed him 
that he had been ordered by his government to take a 
position on the left bank of the Rio Grande, which he 
had done, and from which he could not recede, except 
under directions from the same quarter with those which 
brought him there. He further stated that the move- 
ment in question was expected by his government to be 
a peaceful one, and that he (Ampudia) was fully at li- 
berty to make it otherwise, at any moment he might see 
fit to do so ; in which case he would be responsible for 
all the consequences resulting from the same. The 
allotted time expired without being followed by any oc- 
currence of interest, notwithstanding the definite form 
of General Ampudia's notice. 

On the 17th, Lieutenant T. H. Porter, and Lieutenant 
Dobbins, started from camp for the purpose of discover- 
ing if possible, the murderers of Colonel Cross, a step 
induced by the rumour that Romano Falcon was prowl- 
ing in the vicinity with his command. Each com- 
manded a detachment of two non-commissioned officers 



THE WAR. 19 



Death of Lieutenant Porter. 



and ten privates. They took opposite directions. During 
the night it rained hard. On the second day, Lieute- 
nant Porter met a party of Mexicans, one of whom 
snapped his piece at him. Lieutenant Porter an- 
swered by firing a double barrel. The Mexican took to 
flight, whilst Lieutenant Porter took possession of the 
camp of the marauders, containing ten horses, blankets, 
&c. He then immediately mounted his men, and 
started for head-quarters. It shortly after commenced 
raining with the violence known only in tropical climates. 
While passing through a clump of chaparral. Lieutenant 
Porter was fired upon. He instantly ordered his men 
to dismount, but their arms were useless from the rain, 
while the enemy continued to pour in a galling fire. 
One of Lieutenant Porter's men was shot down, and he 
himself received a ball in the thigh and fell, exclaiming, 
"Fight on, boys! Take care of yourselves." The men 
then separated into three parties as they retreated into the 
chaparral, but they all finally reached the camp. As 
they retired, the Mexicans, yelling like Indians, rushed 
upon Lieutenant Porter and the wounded soldier, and 
plunged their knives into their breasts. The gallant 
young officer whose life was thus early lost to his coun- 
try, was a son of Commodore David Porter. It has 
been said of some families that chivalry runs in the 
blood, and of none can it be more true than of the Por- 
ters. The brother of Lieutenant Porter, who held a 
similar rank in the navy, is reported to have said, when 
he heard of his brother's death, that his father had given 
him a sword as his only bequest, and with that sword 
he would avenge his brother's fall or share his fate. 
His American mother had written to him, " come not to 



20 THE WAR. 



Blockade of the Rio Grande. 



me — but go the other way, to avenge your brother and 
defend your country." 

On the 19th of April, General Taylor learned that two 
vessels from New Orleans, laden with supplies for the 
Mexicans in Matamoras, were off the mouth of the Rio 
Grande, he ordered the United States brig Lawrence, 
with the revenue cutter St. Anna, to cut off the commu- 
nication by water with that place. A letter from Am- 
pudia followed the establishment of this blockade, in 
which that step is complained of, and a demand made 
for the release of two Mexicans, falsely alleged to be 
held as prisoners by the American general. The letter 
of General Taylor in reply is of great interest, and is 
worthy of preservation as an evidence of the dignified 
yet firm bearing of that officer at this critical period. 

" Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation, > 
Camp near Matamoras, Texas, April 22, 1846. \ 

" Sir : — I have had the honour to receive your commu- 
nication of this date, in which you complain of certain 
measures adopted by my orders to close the mouth of 
the Rio Bravo against vessels bound to Matamoras, and 
in which you also advert to the case of two Mexicans 
supposed to be detained as prisoners in this camp. 

" After all that has passed since the American army 
first approached the Rio Bravo, I am certainly surprised 
that you should complain of a measure which is no other 
than a natural result of the state of war so much insisted 
upon by the Mexican authorities as actually existing at 
this time. You will excuse me for recalling a few cir- 
cumstances to show that this state of war has not been 
sought by the American army, but has been forced upon 



THE WAR. 21 



I'ajlor's Letter to Ampudia. 



it, and that the exercise of the rights incident to such a 
state cannot be made a subject of complaint. 

" On breaking up my camp at Corpus Christi, and 
moving forward with the army under my orders to oc- 
cupy the left bank of the Rio Bravo, it was my earnest 
desire to execute my instructions in a pacific manner ; 
to observe the utmost regard for the personal rights of 
all citizens residing on the left bank of the river, and to 
take care that the religion and customs of the people 
should suffer no violation. With this view, and to quiet 
the minds of the inhabitants, I issued orders to the 
army, enjoining a strict observance of the rights and 
interests of all Mexicans residing on the river, and 
caused said orders to be translated into Spanish, and 
circulated in the several towns on the Bravo. These 
orders announced the spirit in which we proposed to 
occupy the country, and I am proud to say that up to 
this moment the same spirit has controlled the opera- 
tions of the army. On reaching the Arroyo Colorado I 
was informed by a Mexican officer that the order in 
question had been received in Matamoras ; but was told 
at the same time that if I attempted to cross the river it 
would be regarded as a declaration of war. Again, on 
my march to Frontone I was met by a deputation of the 
civil authorities of Matamoras, protesting against my 
occupation of a portion of the department of Tamauli- 
pas, and declaring that if the army was not at once 
withdrawn, war would result. While this communica- 
tion was in my hands, it was discovered that the village 
of Frontone had been set on fire and abandoned. I 
viewed this as a direct act of war, and informed the 
deputation that their communication would be answered 



22 T H E W A R. 



Taylor's Letter to Arapudia. 



by me when opposite Matamoras, which was done in 
respectful terms. On reaching the river I despatched 
an officer, high in rank, to convey to the commanding 
general in Matamoras the expression of my desire for 
amicable relations, and my willingness to leave open to 
the use of the citizens of Matamoras the port of Brazos 
Santiago until the question of boundary should be defi- 
nitively settled. This officer received for reply, from 
the officer selected to confer with him, that my advance 
to the Rio Bravo was considered as a veritable act of 
war, and he was absolutely refused an interview with 
the American consul, in itself an act incompatible with 
a state of peace. 

"Notwithstanding these repeated assurances on the 
part of the Mexican authorities, and notwithstanding the 
most obviously hostile preparations on the right bank of 
the river, accompanied by a rigid non-intercourse, I 
carefully abstained from any act of hostility — determined 
that the onus of producing an actual state of hostilities 
should not rest with me. Our relations remained in this 
state until I had the honour to receive your note of the 
12th instant, in which you denounce war as the alterna- 
tive of my remaining in this position. As I could not, 
under my instructions, recede from my position, I ac- 
cepted the alternative you offered me, and made all my 
dispositions to meet it suitably. But, still willing to 
adopt milder measures before proceeding to others, I 
contented myself in the first instance with ordering a 
blockade of the mouth of the Rio Bravo by the naval 
forces under my orders — a proceeding perfectly conso- 
nant with the state of war so often declared to exist, 
and which you acknowledge in your note of the 16th 



THE WAR. 23 



Taylor's Letter to Ampudia. 



instant, relative to the late Colonel Cross. If this mea- 
sure seems oppressive, I wish it borne in mind that it 
has been forced upon me by the course you have seen 
fit to adopt. I have reported this blockade to my go- 
vernment, and shall not remove it until I receive instruc- 
tions to that effect, unless indeed you desire an armistice 
pending the final settlement of the question between the 
governments, or until war shall be formally declared by 
either, in which case I shall cheerfully open the river. 
In regard to the consequences you mention as resulting 
from a refusal to remove the blockade, I beg you to 
understand that I am prepared for them, be they what 
they may. 

*-In regard to the particular vessels referred to in your 
communication, I have the honour to advise you that, 
in pursuance of my orders, two American schooners, 
bound for Matamoras, were warned off on the 17th in- 
stant, when near the mouth of the river, and put to sea, 
returning probably to New Orleans. They were not 
seized, or their cargoes disturbed in any way, nor have 
they been in the harbour of Brazos Santiago to my know- 
ledge. A Mexican schooner, understood to be the ^ Ju- 
niata,' was in or off that harbour when my instructions 
to block the river were issued, but was driven to sea in 
a gale, since which time I have had no report concern- 
ing her. Since the receipt of your communication, I 
have learned that two persons, sent to the mouth of the 
river to procure information respecting this vessel, pro- 
ceeded thence to Brazos Santiago, when they were 
taken up and detained by the officer in command, until 
my orders could be received. I shall order their imme- 
diate release. A letter from one of them to the Spanish 
vice-consul is respectfully transmitted herewith. 



24 THE WAR. 



Taylor's Letter to Ampudia. 



" In relation to the Mexicans said to have drifted 
down the river in a boat, and to be prisoners at this time 
in my camp, I have the pleasure to inform you that no 
such persons have been taken prisoners or are now de- 
tained by my authority. The boat in question was car- 
ried down empty by the current of the river, and drifted 
ashore near one of our pickets and was secured by the 
guard. Some time afterwards an attempt was made to 
recover the boat under the cover of darkness ; the indi- 
viduals concerned were hailed by the guard, and, failing 
to answer, were fired upon as a matter of course. What 
became of them is not known, as no trace of them could 
be discovered on the following morning. The officer of 
the Mexican guard directly opposite was informed next 
day that the boat would be returned on proper applica- 
tion to me, and I have now only to repeat that assur- 
ance. 

" In conclusion, I take leave to state that I consider the 
tone of your communication highly exceptionable, where 
you stigmatize the movement of the army under my 
orders as ' marked with the seal of universal reproba- 
tion.' You must be aw^are that such language is not 
respectful in itself, either to me or my government ; and 
while I observe in my own correspondence the courtesy 
due to your high position, and to the magnitude of the 
interests with which we are respectively charged, I shall 
expect the same in return. 

"I have the honour to be, very respectfully, your obe- 
dient servant, 

"Z.TAYLOR, 
^^ Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A.^ Commanding, 
"Sr. Gen. D. Pedro de Ampudia, Commandiiig in Matamoras.^' 



THE WAR. 25 



Taylor's account of his preparations for defense. 

On the 20th of April, an artfully- worded address was 
issued by General Arista, offering lands to all who should 
desert from the American army and become citizens of 
Mexico, three hundred and twenty acres being fixed as 
the price of a private, and others in proportion. Any 
services to Mexico were to be properly rewarded. The 
state of things at this time is well described by General 
Taylor in a letter written on the 25th of April. He 
says, " strong guards of foot and mounted men are 
established on the margin of the river, and thus efficient 
means have been adopted on our part to prevent all 
intercourse. While opposite to us, their pickets extend 
above and below for several miles, we are equally active 
in keeping up a strong and vigilant guard to prevent 
surprise or attacks, under disadvantageous circumstances. 
This is the more necessary while we are to act on the 
defensive, and they are at liberty to take the opposite 
course whenever they think proper to do so. Nor have 
we been idle in other respects ; we have a field-work 
under way, besides having erected a strong battery, and 
a number of buildings for the security of our supplies, 
in addition to some respectable works for their protec- 
tion. We have mounted a respectable battery, four 
pieces of which are long eighteen-pounders, with which 
we could batter or burn down the city of Matamoras, 
should it become necessary to do so. When our field- 
work is completed — which will soon be the case — and 
mounted with its proper armament, five hundred men 
could hold it against as many thousand Mexicans. Dur- 
ing the twenty-seven days since our arrival here, a most 
singular state of things has prevailed all through the out- 
lines of the two armies, which, to a certain extent, have 

3 



26 THE WAR. 



Capture of Captain Thornton. 



all the feelings as if there were actual war. Fronting 
each other for an extent of more than two miles, and 
within musket range, are batteries shotted, and the 
officers and men, in many instances, waiting impatiently 
for orders to apply the matches, yet nothing has been 
done to provoke the firing of a gun or any act of vio- 
lence." In the postscript to this letter. General Taylor 
adds, '' since writing the above, an engagement has 
taken place between a detachment of our cavalry and 
the Mexicans, in which we are worsted. So the war 
has actually commenced and the hardest must fend off." 
This significant language has reference to the defeat 
of Captain Thornton. General Taylor's scouts had 
brought in intelligence on the 23d, that twenty-five hun- 
dred Mexicans had crossed the river to the Texas side, 
above the American fort, and fifteen hundred below. A 
squadron of dragoons was despatched to each place of 
crossing to reconnoiter them and learn their position. 
The squadron ordered below was commanded by Cap- 
tain Ker ; that above, commanded by Captain Thorn- 
ton, consisted of Captain Hardee, Lieutenants Kane and 
Mason, and sixty-one privates and non-commissioned 
officers. Captain Ker found that the report of the cross- 
ing below was false. Captain Thornton, however, pro- 
ceeded up the country some twenty-six miles, where he 
fell into an ambuscade, and found himself surrounded 
by about two thousand five hundred of the enemy con- 
cealed in the chaparral. The command behaved with 
great gallantry, but the number of the enemy was so 
overwhelming that they surrendered as prisoners of war. 
Lieutenant George Mason, who was killed in the rencoun- 
ter, is said to have maimed Romano Falcon for life, in 



THE WAR. 29 



Captaiu Walker's defeat. 



a close personal contest. He was a gallant young officer- 
and his death is much regretted. Though the force 
which obtained this success was about fifteen to one, it 
filled the Mexican army with ecstacy, and General Arista 
addressed to General Torrejon an eloquent letter of con- 
gratulation on his great and glorious victory. The re- 
serve they had hitherto manifested was now cast wholly 
aside. They came across the river in great numbers; 
all intercourse between General Taylor's camp and Point 
Isabel was cut off, and there was imminent danger of 
the fall of that place with all the military stores it con- 
tained. Nothing of interest had occurred at Point Isa- 
bel up to this time. Major Munroe, who commanded, 
had completed his arrangements for defense, and armed 
some five or six hundred men, among whom were fifty 
or sixty sailors, collected from the vessels in port. Cap- 
tain Walker of the Rangers, and some small parties of 
Texans had arrived there, and was speedily engaged 
upon important duties. Some teams having returned 
to Point Isabel, on account of the obstructions of 
the roads by the Mexicans, Captain Walker went out on 
the 28th with a number of men to reconnoiter. He was 
driven back to Point Isabel with great loss, having been 
attacked when midway between that place and the camp, 
by an overwhelming force of the enemy. His raw troops 
fled in confusion, and he was obliged to retreat. He 
returned with only two men ; seven afterwards came in. 
He estimated the force of the enemy at fifteen hundred, 
and thought that many of them must have fallen in the 
skirmish. Notwithstanding this repulse, Captain Walker 
volunteered to carry a message to General Taylor. Ma- 
jor Munroe having accepted the offer, he started on the 



30 T H E W A R. 



Taylor's raarcli to Point Isabel. 



evening of the 29th and, after encountering many immi- 
nent dangers, reached the camp in safety. As soon as 
General Taylor had received Major Munroe's statement, 
he determined upon a movement that would release 
him from the embarrassment of having the communica- 
tion cut off Accordingly, on the morning of the 1st of 
May, 1846, he took up the line of march for Point Isa- 
bel, with the main body of his army, leaving the seventh 
regiment of infantry and two companies of artillery 
under Captain Lowd and Lieutenant Bragg, to complete 
the works in the fort, and defend it if it was attacked. 
The whole was put under command of Major Brown. 
As the army passed out, the banks of the river on the 
Matamoras side were crowded with spectators of the 
departure of what they thought our discomfited army, 
whilst General Arista employed himself in announcing 
the "retreat" of General Taylor and his army to his 
government, taking care to pay to himself and his brave 
men the tribute so signal a triumph deserved. 

The Mexicans, however, evinced great judgment by 
refraining from attacking him on the way to Point Isabel, 
as it afforded them an opportunity of attacking and try- 
ing to capture his fortified camp with a weakened gar- 
rison, by which, if successful, they would have a vast 
advantage over him when he returned, and also they 
would have more advantage and probability of success 
in annoying and harassing his forces, or in fighting a 
pitched battle on his return routs, encumbered as he 
would be by two or three hundred loaded wagons. 

The Mexicans were too sagacious to delay improving 
these advantages. On the morning of the 3d, a bat- 
tery of seven guns placed in the town, opened a 



THE WAR. 31 



Exploit of May and Walker. 



brisk fire upon the fort. It was returned, and shortly 
silenced. They then fired shells and shot from the 
lower fort and a mortar battery, which was continued 
with a short intermission till midnight. During all this 
time a part of the troops laboured to complete the fortifi- 
cations, although exposed to the full range of the enemy's 
guns. By the fifteen hundred shot fired during this 
first day, but one man was killed. The Americans 
stopped firing about ten o'clock in the forenoon, as they 
were wasting ammunition and doing no injury, except 
to the town. This silence was mistaken by the enemy 
as a symptom of fear or despair, they momentarily ex- 
pected a surrender. 

The noise of this cannonading having reached Point 
Isabel, General Taylor despatched Captain May with 
Captain Walker and a hundred men, to learn something 
of the garrison, and reconnoiter the country. They 
avoided the enemy, and penetrated to within a few miles 
of the fort. Captain May there concealed his party in 
the chaparral, and Captain Walker with six rangers pro- 
ceeded to the fort. Walker not having returned to the 
detachment. May feared that he had fallen a victim to 
the enemy, and as the Mexican scouts had discovered 
his own position, he decided to return. He reached the 
camp in safety, having on the way put to flight and pur- 
sued for three miles, a very superior body of the enemy's 
cavalry. The supposed loss of Captain W^alker, who 
was a general favourite, cast a gloom over the whole 
army, which, however, was speedily dispelled by the 
appearance of that gallant officer, bearing the gratifying 
intelligence that Major Brown was able to maintain his 
position. Captain Walker had returned to the place 



32 



THE WAR. 



Preparations for assault on Fort Brown. 




Fort Brown. 



where he had left Captain May, and finding him gone, 
returned to the fort, stating that the Mexicans had 
blocked the game on him this time, but that he would 
give them another turn when it was dark. Starting from 
the fort at night with his party, his superior knowledge 
of the country only enabling him to avoid the numerous 
parties of the enemy who were aware of his mission, 
and on the alert to capture him. 

At the fort, during the 4th, the fire of the enemy was 
not renewed, and the soldiers laboured with energy to 
complete the works. On the following day, large parties 
of the enemy, both horse and foot, were discovered in 
the rear of the fort. These thousands were supported by 
a battery that had been erected in the night, and which 
the garrison named for the sake of distinction, " the Bat- 
tery in the country." This battery, with those in Mata- 



THE WAR. 33 



Signal guns fired at Fort Brown. 



moras, opened with shot and shell in the afternoon, and 
kept up a galling cross fire. At nine o'clock, Lieutenant 
Hanson, after a gallant reconnoisance, reported the erec- 
tion of a new battery at the cross roads. On Wednes- 
day morning, the 6th, a spirited fire was kept up 
against the fort, the shot and shells being well directed. 
The balls falling into the fortress aflforded considerable 
merriment to the soldiers, who were sitting idly about, 
reserving their ammunition in case of need under an 
assault. An old soldier, who prided himself on his culi- 
nary skill, had made some coffee, and was stooping to 
pour it into the cups of his mess, when a ball flying over 
the parapet, struck in the ashes near him and overturned 
the beverage into the fire. The disciple of Careme and 
votary of Mars, shocked at the disrespect, gave the ball 
a kick, while in a dolorous voice he cursed the rascally 
Mexicans for knocking over his coffee. 

In compliance with the directions given by General 
Taylor to be pursued in case the fort was surrounded, 
the eighteen-pounders were fired at stated intervals. 
The enemy, as if conscious that this was a call for relief, 
reopened their fire upon the fort. The officers of the 
garrison, however, reserved their ammunition for the ex- 
pected assault. The bomb proofs w^ere built at points 
convenient for the soldiers to retreat into, and the sen- 
tinel on the look out could name the battery from which 
a ball or shell was fired, as soon as he saw the smoke 
of the discharge, and the soldiers would have time to 
get under cover before the balls reached them. Shells 
were frequently allowed to explode harmlessly in the 
air, by the soldiers falling flat on their faces, when one 
was fired, a measure which a Mexican, elevated to a 

C 



34 THE WAR. 



Fall of Major Brown, 



considerable height in a tall tree, with a glass in his 
hand, reported to his comrades as being what it seemed 
to him, a mark of the destruction produced by their fire. 
The lamented death of Major Brown occurred at this 
time, May 6th.* We give the following graphic account 
of it, taken from "Our Army on the Rio Grande," by 
T. B. Thorpe, Esq. He says, "After the cross firing, 
called forth with so much energy by our signal eighteen 
pounders, had continued for three hours and a half, the 
noble-minded Major Brown, commander of the fort, 
with his adjutant-lieutenant by his side, took his usual 
round to see that officers and men were at their posts. 
He stopped for a moment to give directions to some of 
the soldiers who were busily employed at one of the 
bomb proofs. Every instant the men were engaged in 
dodging to avoid the ball and bursting shell. One of 
the latter, from "the battery in the country," struck in 
the parapet, burying itself in the sand without explod- 
ing ; a cloud of dust rose into the air, amid which the 
gallant commander was seen to fall, mortally wounded, 
He was immediately taken to the hospital tent, and, 

* The death of Major J. Brown was a severe loss to the army. He 
was a native of Vermont, and at the age of twenty-four years entered 
the army as a common soldier, in the 7th infantry, at the commence- 
ment of the war of 1812. His merit soon raised him to the rank of 
ensign, lieutenant, and finally major. He did good service in the 
Florida war ; and was selected by General Taylor to command at the 
fort where he fell, in consequence of the general's high opinion of his 
courage and ability. General Taylor says cf him : " The pleasure (of 
victory) is alloyed with profound regret at the loss of the heroic and 
indomitable Major Brown. His loss would be a severe one to the service 
at any time, but to the army under my orders, it is indeed irreparable." 

In the case of Major Brown we see the importance of occasional pro- 
motions of common soldiers to the rank of officers. 



THE AVAR. 35 



Summons to Surrender. 



while being borne in the arras of two of his men, he 
exhorted those about him never to give up the fort. His 
riglit leg had been shot off, exhibiting the torn muscles, 
and jagged crushed bones to the pained sight of his 
command. Although suffering the most excruciating 
tortures, he remained perfectly calm, and said to those 
who were sympathizingly standing about him, ^' Men, 
go to your duties, stand by your posts ; I am but one 
among you." While suffering under the operation of 
having his leg amputated above the knee, which was 
most skilfully done, he congratulated his country that the 
misfortune had befallen him, and not been meted out to 
a younger man. 

Attempts were next made by the enemy to bring 
musketry into play upon the garrison, but those who ap- 
proached for the purpose were scattered with some loss 
by a few rounds of canister. The bombardment then 
grew still more severe, and continued till noon. In the 
afternoon, a few shells were thrown. At four p.m., two 
Mexican officers approached with a white flag, bearing 
a communication from General Arista, which proved to 
be a summons to surrender, the humanity of the Mexi- 
cans being given as a reason for the demand, although 
he is asserted to have had a band of men organized and 
instructed to slaughter the garrison as soon as the sur- 
render was made. Captain Hawkins, who had suc- 
ceeded Major Brown in the command, summoned a 
council of the commissioned officers, and stated the pur- 
port of the message, (the want of a good Spanish inter- 
preter making it difficult to be fully understood,) adding 
that though he knew there w^as but one sentiment upon 
the point, he thought it proper that all the officers should 



36 THE WAR. 



Answer. 



be represented in the reply. It was then unanimously 
voted to defend the fort to the death. The following 
reply was therefore prepared and despatched to General 
Arista, within the hour that had been allowed for a reply. 

"Sir: — Your humane communication has just been 
received, and, after the consideration due to its import- 
ance, I must respectfully decline to surrender my forces 
to you. 

The exact purport of your despatch I cannot feel 
confident that I understand, as my interpreter is not 
skilled in your language ; but if I have understood you 
correctly, you have my reply above," &c., &c. 

The reception of this answer was the signal of a gene- 
ral burst of heavy shot upon the fort ; but the Americans 
saved their ammunition and doubled their sentinels dur- 
ing the night, in expectation of an attack. During the 
7th, much activity was manifested, a heavy cannonade 
being maintained all day, and various parties firing with 
muskets into the fort from every position. The garrison, 
however, were directed not to return the fire unless they 
advanced within eighty yards, and they therefore pre- 
served silence. In the evening, the gallant Major Mans- 
field advanced with a small party into the plain, and 
leveled the traverse formerly occupied by the Americans, 
and which now served to shelter the enemy while firing 
on the fort. A large quantity of chaparral, used in a 
similar manner, was also cut down. At midnight the 
garrison were roused by a terrible discharge of musketry, 
and the sound of bugles, but the anticipated assault did 
not follow. On the 8th, the cannonade was recommenced 
at daybreak, and continued till the afi;ernoon. The 
bombardment had hardly ceased when a severe cannon- 



THE WAR. 37 



Death, of Major Brown. 



ading was heard in the direction of Point Isabel, so sud- 
den and so rapidly that it seemed to be one continuous 
volley of. field-pieces. The soldiers in the fort answered 
it by hearty cheering ; the men of Matamoras, by a re- 
newal of the firing from four mortar batteries at once. 
Yet the gallant defenders knew that General Taylor was 
on his way to succour them, and they stood upon the 
parapet to listen to the far distant firing, while the ter- 
rific rain from the enemy's batteries poured unheeded 
around them. Towards night, they learned from a Mexi- 
can the events of the field of Palo Alto, and the know- 
ledge that the victory rested with their friends made the 
quiet night, their nearer enemies permitted them to enjoy, 
the more refreshing. On the morning of the 9th, an 
officer of the 7th regiment went outside of the fort to 
the flagstaff, for the purpose of arranging the halyards, 
which bad become unrigged on the previous day. He 
succeeded in lowering the topmast of the staff and rig- 
ging the halyards, the enemy playing upon him with 
round shot and shell from all their batteries. He was 
not strong enough to raise the flagstaff to its proper 
place, he therefore coolly lashed it in its position, and 
gave the flag to the breeze. 

On this day Major Brown expired. At the time of 
his death every thing in the fort was perfectly still, and 
the silence was unbroken until the report of Ridgely's 
batteries on the field of the Resaca de la Palmawere 
heard. "No language," says Mr. Thorpe, "can de- 
scribe the intense interest with which the raging battle 
was listened to: each man was at his post, and every 
booming gun called forth an almost agonizing interest to 
learn its nationality and effects. Meanwhile the bom- 

4 



38 T H E W A R. 



Flight of the eneray seen from the Fort. 



bardment opened simultaneously with the firing on the 
field, and continued to increase with unprecedented 
severity ; but it w^as not to the batteries of the Mexicans 
that attention was directed. Our eighteen-pounders 
were occasionally fired, to let General Taylor know that 
all was still well in the fort. The firing on the battle- 
field w^as now growing less and less powerful, and the 
discharges were becoming irregular. ' They have charged 
on the guns !' shouted one of the officers! Another and 
another w^as silenced. * They have carried them!' 
shouted another, in uncontrollable ecstacy ; all cannonad- 
ing ceased ; volleys of musketry w^ere next heard, then all 
w^as still. How eloquently the silence spoke of the 
hand-to-hand conflict, and how the blood in the hearts 
of these brave men went and came from excitement to 
be engaged in it! The victorious result of our arms 
w^as now almost certain. General Taylor and his brave 
men would either conquer or die. No bells were now 
ringing in Matamoras, and the noisy music that w^as 
wont to belabour the air had been silenced since the 
evening of the 8th. This, to the heroes of the fort, 
was full of meaning, and the tale w^as soon told. At a little 
before six a confused rush of cavalry and straggling in- 
fantry tow^ards the Rio Grande, announced the \dctory 
of the Americans, at sight of which, an officer of the 
7th regiment jumped upon the parapet, beside the regi- 
mental flagstaff, and gave three cheers, w^hich w^ere re- 
sponded to so loudly and heartily by all in the fort, that 
they silenced the enemy's batteries, for from that moment 
they ceased firing. The news had reached Matamoras, 
that to Mexico the day w^as lost." Besides Major 
Brown, one non-commissioned officer killed, and ten 



THE WAR. 39 



March, from Point Isabel. 



men wounded was the amount of loss that the garrison 
sustained during one hundred and sixty hours severe 
bombardment. 

General Taylor had left Point Isabel on the evening 
of the 7th of May, and moved with the main body of 
the army towards the Rio Grande. After marching 
seven miles, they bivouacked on their arms, and resumed 
the march on the following morning. At noon they dis- 
covered the enemy, prepared to oppose their progress, 
stretched out on the flat prairie more than a mile. 

We give here the clear and concise account of this 
battle, given by General Taylor in his official despatches, 
reserving for another portion of the work more minute 
details and personal anecdotes. 

** About noon, when our advance of cavalry had 
reached the water hole of ' Palo Alto,' the Mexican 
troops were reported in our front, and were soon dis- 
covered occupying the road in force. I ordered a halt 
upon reaching the water, with the view to rest and re- 
fresh the men, and to form deliberately our line of bat- 
tle. The Mexican line was now plainly visible across 
the prairie, and about three-quarters of a mile distant. 
Their left, which was composed of a heavy force of 
cavalry, occupied the road, resting upon a thicket of 
chaparral, while masses of infantry were discovered in 
succession on the right, greatly outnumbering our own 
force. 

Our line of battle was now formed in the followinof 
order, commencing on the extreme right : — 5th infantry, 
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Mcintosh ; Major 
Ringgold's artillery ; 3d infantry, commanded by Cap- 
tain L. N. Morris; two eighteen-pounders, commanded 



40 THE WAR. 



Battle of Palo Alto. 



by Lieutenant Churchill, 3d artillery ; 4th infantry, com- 
manded by Major G. W. Allen ; the 3d and 4th regi- 
ments composed the third brigade, under command of 
Lieutenant-Colonel Garland ; and all the above corps, 
together with two squadrons of dragoons under Captains 
Ker and May, composed the right wing under the orders 
of Colonel Twiggs. The left was formed by the bat- 
talion of artillery commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel 
Childs. Captain Duncan's light artillery, and the 8th 
infantry, under Captain Montgomery — all forming the 
first brigade, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Belk- 
nap. The train was packed near the water, under direc- 
tion of Captains Grossman and Myers, and protected by 
Captain Ker's squadron. 

At two oclock we took up the march by heads of 
columns, in the direction of the enemy — the eighteen- 
pounder battery following the road. While the columns 
were advancing, Lieutenant Blake, topographical engi- 
neer, volunteered a reconnoisance of the enemy's line, 
which was handsomely performed, and resulted in the 
discovery of at least two batteries of artillery in the 
intervals of their cavalry and infantry. These batteries 
were soon opened upon us, when I ordered the columns 
halted and deployed into line, and the fire to be returned 
by all our artillery. The 8th infantry on our extreme 
left, was thrown back to secure that flank. The first 
fires of the enemy did little execution, while our eighteen- 
pounders and Major Ringgold's artillery soon dispersed 
the cavalry which formed his left. — Captain Duncan's 
battery, thrown forward in advance of the line, was 
doing good execution at this time. Captain May's 
squadron was now detached to support that battery, and 



THE WAR. 43 



Battle of Palo Alto. 



the left of our position. The Mexican cavalry, with 
two pieces of artillery, were now reported to be moving 
through the chaparral to our right, to threaten that flank, 
or make a demonstration against the train. The 5th 
infantry was immediately detached to check this move- 
ment, and supported by Lieutenant Ridgely, with a sec- 
tion of Major Ringgold's battery and Captain Walker's 
company of volunteers, effectually repulsed the enemy — 
the 5th infantry repelling a charge of lancers, and the 
artillery doing great execution in their ranks. The 3d 
infantry was now detached to the right as a still farther 
security to that flank yet threatened by the enemy. Ma- 
jor Ringgold, with the remaining section, kept up his 
fire from an advanced position, and was supported by 
the 4th infantry. 

The grass of the prairie had been accidentally fired 
by our artillery, and the volumes of smoke now partially 
concealed the armies from each other. As the enemy's 
left had evidently been driven back and left the road 
free, as the cannonade had been suspended, I ordered 
forward the eighteen-pounders on the road nearly to the 
position first occupied by the Mexican cavalry, and 
caused the first brigade to take up a new position still 
on the left of the eighteen-pounder battery. The 5th 
was advanced from its former position and occupied a 
point on the extreme right of the new line. The enemy 
made a change of position corresponding to our own, 
and after the suspension of nearly an hour the action 
was resumed. 

The fire of artillery was now most destructive — open- 
ings were constantly made through the enemy's ranks 
by our fire, and the constancy with which the Mexican 



44 THE WAR. 



Death, of Major Ringgold, 



infantry sustained the severe cannonade was a theme of 
universal remark and admiration. Captain May's squad- 
ron was detached to make a demonstration on the left 
of the enemy's position, and suffered severely from the 
fire of artillery to which it was for some time exposed. 
The 4th infantry, which had been ordered to support 
the eighteenrpounder battery, was exposed to a most 
galling fire of artillery, by which several men were 
killed, and Captain Page dangerously wounded. The 
enemy's fire was directed against our eighteen-pounder 
battery, and the guns under Major Ringgold, in its vici- 
nity. The major himself, while coolly directing the fire 
of his pieces, was struck by a cannon ball and mortally 
wounded.* 

In the mean time the battalion of artillery under Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Childs, had been brought up to support 
the artillery on our right. A strong demonstration of 
cavalry was now made by the enemy against this part 
of our line, and the column continued to advance under 
a severe fire from the eighteen-pounders. The battalion 
was instantly formed in square, and held ready to receive 

* The death of Major Ringgold was universally lamented. He was 
a native of Washington county, Maryland, born in 1800. He was 
educated at the Military Academy, West Point; graduated in 1818; 
entered the army as lieutenant ; promoted to the rank of first lieutenant 
in 1822, and to that of captain in 1834. His brevet rank of major 
was the reward of severe service in the Florida war. To his exertions 
in perfecting the discipline of the light artillery, the country is chiefly 
indebted for the efficiency of that important arm of the national defense. 

Major Ringgold's connections were of the first respectability. His 
father was General Samuel Ringgold, and his mother was a daughter 
of General John Cadwalader, who was greatly distinguished in the war 
of the Revolution. His conduct and character as an officer and a gentle- 
man were in every respect worthy of so highly honourable a descent. 



THE WAR. 45 



Loss, &c., at Falo Alto. 



the charge of cavalry ; but when the advancing squad- 
rons were within close range a deadly fire of canister 
from the eighteen-pounders dispersed them. A brisk 
fire of small arms was now opened upon the square, by 
which one officer, Lieutenant Luther, 2d artillery, was 
slightly wounded ; but a well-directed volley from the 
front of the square silenced all farther firing from the 
enemy in this quarter. It was now nearly dark, and the 
action was closed on the right of our line, the enemy 
having been completely driven back from his position, 
and foiled in every attempt against our line. 

While the above was going forward on our right, and 
under my own eye, the enemy had made a serious 
attempt against the left of our line. Captain Duncan 
instantly perceived the movement, and by the bold and 
brilliant manoeuvering of this battery, completely repulsed 
several successive efforts of the enemy to advance in 
force upon our left flank. Supported in succession by 
the 8th infantry and Captain Ker's squadron of dragoons, 
he gallantly held the enemy at bay, and finally drove 
him, with immense loss, from the field. The action 
here and along the whole line, continued until dark, 
when the enemy retired into the chaparral in rear of his 
position. 

Our loss this day was nine killed, forty-four wounded, 
and two missing. Among the wounded were Major Ring- 
gold, who has since died, and Captain Page dangerously 
wounded, and Lieutenant Luther slightly so. I annex 
a tabular statement of the casualties of the day. 

Our own force engaged is shown by the field report, 
herewith transmitted, to have been one hundred and 
seventy-seven officers and two thousand one hundred 



46 THE -WAR. 



Arista's Despatch. 



and eleven men ; aggregate, two thousand two hundred 
and eighty-eight. The Mexican force, according to the 
statement of their own officers, taken prisoners in the 
affair of the 9tli, was not less than six thousand regular 
troops, with ten pieces of artillery, and probably exceed- 
ed that number — the irregular force not known. Their 
loss was not less than two hundred killed, and four 
hundred wounded — probably greater. This estimate is 
very moderate, and founded upon the number actually 
counted on the field, and upon the reports of their own 
officers. 

As already reported in my first brief despatch, the 
conduct of our officers and men was every thing that 
could be desired. Exposed for hours to the severest 
trials — a cannonade of artillery — our troops displayed a 
coolness and constancy which gave me throughout the 
assurance of victory. I purposely defer the mention of 
individuals until my report of the action of the 9th, when 
I will endeavour to do justice to the many instances of 
distinguished conduct on both days." 

The Mexicans evinced great determination in this first 
day's battle, and remained almost within sight of the 
American army during the night. General Arista em- 
ployed the night in writing a despatch to the minister of 
war and marine, giving an eloquent account of what he 
claimed as his victory, and at daybreak on the 9th, 
slowly moved into the chaparral, leaving General Taylor 
in possession of the battle-field. Fearing that the enemy 
might dispute his progress towards Fort Brown, as the 
fortification opposite Matamoras was now named, he 
ordered the train to be strongly parked. An intrench- 
ment was thrown up, and the artillery battalion, with two 



THE WAR. 47 



Death of Lieutenant Elate. 



eighteen-pounders and two twelve-pounders were as- 
signed to its defence. 

The army then moved over the plain in line of battle 
with lively music, marking every where around them 
the evidences of the terrible destruction produced by 
the American artillery on the previous day. Wounded 
soldiers, dying of thirst and hunger, received relief from 
their generous enemies. The ground was covered with 
torn clothing, military caps, gun-stocks, and large quan- 
tities of cartridges for muskets and artillery. On the edge 
of the chaparral, the army halted at a place convenient 
to water. A detachment under Captain McCall was 
sent forward into the chaparral to ascertain the position 
of the enemy. General Taylor then rode back to the 
train, accompanied by Lieutenant J. E. Blake of the 
topographical corps, who had displayed the utmost gal- 
lantry on the previous day. At the train, Lieutenant 
Blake dismounted from his horse to procure some refresh- 
ment, and expressed gratification at the prospect of a 
little rest, his labours during the previous twenty-four 
hours having been very arduous. He unbuckled his 
holsters and threw them on the ground, when one of the 
pistols unaccountably exploded, throwing the ball up- 
wards into his body. He was mortally wounded, and 
expired shortly after, expressing his regret that he had 
not died on the battle-field on the preceding day. 

Captain McCall with the advance guard found the 
enemy intrenched at La Resaca de la Palma, the Dry 
River of Palms, a strong position entirely commanding 
the approach to Fort Brown. At this place the road 
crosses a ravine sixty yards wide and nearly breast high, 
the bottom being wet, forming long and serpentine ponds 



48 THE WAR. 



Gallantry of Ridgely. 



through the prairie. Along the banks of this dry river, 
and more particularly on the side then occupied by the 
Mexicans, the chaparral grows most densely, and at this 
time, save where it was broken in by the passage of the 
road, formed almost a solid wall. The enemy occupied 
this ravine in double line ; one behind and under the 
front bank, and the other intrenched behind the wall of 
the chaparral on the top of the rear ridge. A battery 
was placed in the centre of each line on the right and 
left of the road, and a third battery was on the right of 
the first line. Six or seven thousand troops were thus 
strongly fortified in a form resembling a crescent, be- 
tween the horns of which the army had to pass, while 
the Mexican batteries were enfilading and cross firing, 
the narrow road which formed the only unobstructed 
approach to their position. Lieutenant Ridgely, the 
successor of Ringgold, was ordered forward on the road, 
while the 3d, 4th, and 5th regiments of infantry were 
ordered forward as skirmishers to cover the battery and 
engage the infantry of the enemy. General Taylor and 
his staff came up with Captain McCall and his party at 
four o'clock. He immediately deployed Captain McCall 
to the left of the road, and Captain C. F. Smith to the 
right, with orders to bring on the action. 

Having received orders to advance. Lieutenant Ridge- 
ly moved cautiously forward with Captain Walker, who 
was charged with assisting him to find the enemy's 
batteries. At the instant they discovered them, they 
received a fire from them, which Ridgely, moving about 
a hundred yards to the front, returned with spirit. This 
contest was maintained for some time, their balls filling the 
air, and passing through Ridgely's battery in every dkec- 



T H E W A R. 49 



Action Comraences, 



tion. His men worked at their guns with invincible de- 
termination, and he himself sighted them with all the 
coolness and certainty of ordinary target practice. These 
well-directed charges were necessary to keep off the 
enemy who were constantly charging upon him, and 
whom he had sometimes to beat back with his own 
sword. The rapid firing of the artillery on both sides pro- 
duced an unintermitted roar. Colonel Duncan's bat- 
tery was at the edge of the ravine, but he could not 
use it ; Lieutenant Ridgely holding the only position 
from which the enemy could be assailed without galling 
our troops. These had come into the action in the most 
extraordinary manner, the firing of their musketry being 
heard at almost the same instant that Ridgely opened his 
fire in the centre.* The 6th regiment under Lieutenant- 
Colonel Mcintosh supported Ridgely's battery. The 3d 

* It is to be observed that the artillery, during the whole course of the 
present war, has proved the most efficient arm of the service in deter- 
mining the fate of battles, with, perhaps, the exception of the rifle corps 
in the recent battles near the city of Mexico. Nothing can exceed the 
efficiency and bravery of the rifle corps. General Scott's pointed eulogy 
of their conduct was richly deserved. 

The efficiency of this arm of the national defense, as we have had 
occasion to remark in another place, is greatly owing to the indefatigable 
exertions of Major Ringgold. In this important service the major was 
aided by Captain Duncan, whose battery rendered most efficient service 
in the battles of the 8th and 9th of May, as well as in the other most 
important engagements of the war. The batteries of Sherman, Bragg, 
and Washington have also become famous, especially by their efficient 
service at Buena Vista. 

The services of the artillery in the battle of Buena Vista were so es- 
sential, that it is considered by all military men, that the absence of a 
small portion of it would undoubtedly have occasioned the loss of the 
battle. 

E 5 



50 THE ^AR. 



May's charge. 



regiment with a part of the 4th came up on the enemy's 
right, and the other portion of the 4th joined with the 
5th on the left. The 3d and 4th were separated by the 
chaparral, through which the soldiers literally pushed 
each other into squads of five or six, and they were 
obliged to form in the ravine. The 8th, under Captain 
Montgomery, with Smith's light and other corps, faced 
to the right. The best troops of Mexico were now con- 
tending with the greatest bravery for victory. The con- 
test with artillery and musketry, the sword and the bay- 
onet, at the end of two hours, resulted in the Americans 
gaining possession of the ravine in which the enemy 
w^ere posted at the beginning of the action. Yet the 
batteries in the centre still stood firm, pouring a perfect 
shower of grape and shells into the American front, and 
prevented General Taylor from reaping the advantages 
which the bravery of his troops would otherwise have 
secured. Captain May rode back to the general, and 
asked if he should charge the battery on the other side 
of the ravine. '' Charge, captain, nolens volens," was 
the reply, and away dashed the gallant fellow.* He 
rode to the head of his command ; every rein and sabre 
was tightly gmsped. Raising himself in the saddle, he 
shouted to his command, " We are ordered to take that 
battery — follow!" In columns of fours, they dashed 
along the narrow road, until they came to where Lieu- 
tenant Ridgely obstructed their advance. ^* I am ordered 
to charge those batteries," said May, coming to a halt. 
Ridgely knowing the perilous nature of the duty, said, 
''Wait, Charley, till I draw their fire!" All begrimed 

* Henry's Campaign Sketches. 



THE WAR. 51 



Capture of La Vega. 



with powder and labouring with his own hands, he fired 
his pieces slowly and with the usual deadly effect. A 
storm of copper balls came whizzing and crushing among 
the artillerists in reply, while Ridgely and his men lim- 
bered up, jumped on their pieces, and cheered as May 
dashed forward. An overwhelming discharge of grape 
and bullets from the other battery destroyed his first and 
second platoons, but he was unhurt, and with those who 
lived swept to the left of the road leaped over the bat- 
tery and drove the Mexicans from their guns. But they 
seemed determined to retain their pieces or die : they 
rushed back to them with the bayonet, and commenced 
to load them again with grape. May then charged back 
upon our own lines, and the enemy shrunk in terror 
from the stroke of his sword. One man, General La 
Vega, alone maintained his ground, and tried to rally 
his men ; but was made a prisoner by Captain May, and 
carried under a galling fire from his own countrymen to 
our lines. The infantry now gathered round the batte- 
ries in masses, crossing bayonets for their possession, 
over the very muzzles of the guns. In a short time, 
Captain Belknap, with the 8th infantry, and Captain Mar- 
tin Scott, with the 5th, were engaged in a hand-to-hand 
conflict with the far-famed Tampico veterans, who had 
been in twenty battles and were never defeated. The 
battery was carried, and the 8th and the 5th charged 
up the ravine amidst a terrible fire from the enemy's 
right and front. The battery of Colonel Duncan now 
came into the front, and the retreat of the enemy was 
hastened by his deadly fire. While the centre battery 
of the enemy was being carried. Lieutenants Ruggles 
and Crittenden, with a small command of the 5th and 



52 THE ^TAR. 



Capture of Arista's Despatches. 



the 8th infantry, all under Captain Montgomery, routed 
the right wing and carried the right battery. Between 
this and the centre battery, the Tampico regiment had 
been posted, all of whom, except seventeen, are said to 
have fallen at their posts. Their tri-colour was the last 
Mexican flag weaving on the field, and the gallant fellow 
who bore it, when all hope was lost, tore it from the 
staff, and concealed it about his person while he at- 
tempted to fly. He was ridden down by the dragoons, 
however, and made a prisoner, and his flag was a trophy 
of the victory. 

The hurry of the Mexicans to escape w^as so great, 
that many of them w^ere drowned in the river. Immense 
quantities of baggage, military stores, and camp equipage 
fell into the hands of the Americans ; the personal, pub- 
lic, and private property of Arista, and all his despatches 
being among the spoils. The American army passed 
the night on the battle-field, in the enjoyment of the fes- 
tival which had been prepared by the followers of the 
Mexican camp to regale their friends after the anticipated 
victory. In his despatch after this brilliant victory Ge- 
neral Taylor says : 

" The loss of the enemy in killed has been most 
severe. Our own has been very heavy, and I deeply 
regret to report that Lieutenant Inge, 2d dragoons. Lieu- 
tenant Cochrane, 4th infantry, and Lieutenant Chad- 
bourne, 8th infantry, w^ere killed on the field. Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Payne, 4th artillery, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Mcintosh, Lieutenant Dobbins, 3d infantry, Captain Hooe 
and Lieutenant Fowler, 5th infantry ; and Captain Mont- 
gomery, Lieutenants Gates, Selden, McClay, Burbank, 
and Jordan, 8th infantry were wounded. The extent of 



THE WAR. 53 



General Taylor's Despatch. 



our loss in killed and wounded is not yet ascertained, 
and is reserved for a more detailed report. 

The affair of to-day may be regarded as a proper sup- 
plement to the cannonade of yesterday ; and the two 
taken together, exhibit the coolness and gallantry of our 
officers and men in the most favourable light. All have 
done their duty and done it nobly. It will be my pride, 
in a more circumstantial report of both actions, to dwell 
upon particular instances of individual distinction. 

It affords me peculiar pleasure to report that the field- 
work opposite to Matamoras has sustained itself hand- 
somely during a cannonade and bombardment of one 
hundred and sixty hours. But the pleasure is alloyed 
with profound regret at the loss of its heroic and indo- 
mitable commander. Major Brown, who died to-day from 
the effect of a shell. His loss would be a severe one to 
the service at any time, but to the army under my orders, 
it is indeed irreparable. One officer and one non-com- 
missioned officer killed, and ten men wounded, comprise 
all the casualties incident to this severe bombardment. 

I inadvertently omitted to mention the capture of 
a large number of pack-mules' left in the Mexican 
camp." 

" So confident," says Captain Henry, in his interesting 
work, ' Campaign Sketches of the War with Mexico,' 
^*were the Mexicans of victory, that Ampudia, speaking 
to Captain Thornton, who was then their prisoner, 
said, ' it was utterly impossible it could be otherwise ; 
that their numbers 'alone were sufficient, independent of 
those veteran regiments.' General La Vega said, that ' if 
he had any sum of money in camp he should have consi- 
dered it as safe as if at the city of Mexico ; and he 

5* 



54 T H E W A R. 



Taylor's raarch. to Point Isabel. 



would have bet any amount that no ten thousand men 
could have driven them off.'" 

Our loss in this action was three officers and thirty-six 
men killed, and twelve officers and fifty-nine men 
wounded. The loss of the enemy in killed, wounded, 
and missing, was not less than two thousand, taking the 
two days fighting together. 

On the morning after the battle, General Taylor, with 
characteristic humanity, sent to Matamoras for Mexican 
surgeons to attend to their wounded, and for men to 
bury their dead. The American army was occupied at 
the same time upon the same mournful duty. 

On the 11th General Taylor again left Fort Brown for 
Point Isabel, in order to arrange with Commodore Conner 
the plan of a combined land and naval attack upon the 
Mexican posts on the Rio Grande. While at the Point, he 
despatched a hasty letter to Washington, from which we 
make the following extracts: "I avail myself of this 
brief time at my command to report that the main body 
of the army is now occupying its former position oppo- 
site Matamoras. The Mexican forces are almost disor- 
ganized, and I shall lose no time in investing Matamoras, 
and opening the navigation of the river." * * * u j 
have exchanged a sufficient number of prisoners to 
recover the command of Captain Thornton. The wound- 
ed prisoners have been sent to Matamoras ; the wounded 
officers on their parole. General Vega and a few others 
have been sent to New Orleans, having declined a parole, 
and w^ill be reported to Major-General Gaines. I am 
not conversant with the usages of w^ar in such cases, 
and beg that such provision may be made for these pri- 
soners as may be authorized by law. Our own prisoners 



THE WAR. 55 



Capture of Barita. 



have been treated with great kindness by the Mexican 
officers." 

On the morning of the 13th he started for camp with 
an escort of dragoons, but having been met by an express 
with the information that large bodies of fresh troops 
had arrived at Matamoras, and that the enemy was con- 
centrating troops at Barita, he returned to the Point. 
Here he found a newly arrived detachment of troops 
from New Orleans, including regulars and volunteers 
from Louisiana and Alabama, an accession which ena- 
bled him to withdraw from the Point a force of six 
hundred men with a train of artillery, two hundred and 
fifty wagons, and a large quantity of military and other 
stores. With this force he set out on the morning of 
the 14th for Fort Brown. He had previously arranged 
a plan for an attack upon Barita, a small town near 
the mouth of the Rio Grande, on the Mexican side of 
the river. This was executed by Lieutenant-Colonel 
Wilson, who captured the place without opposition. It 
speedily became a place of importance as the depot of 
the new base of operations, being the first high land 
reached in ascending the river above hurricane tides, 
and in a military point of view, commanding every thing 
around it, and commanded by nothing. 

Want of the necessary means of transportation pre- 
vented General Taylor from crossing the Rio Grande to 
attack Matamoras until the 17th. On that day Colonel 
Twiggs was ordered to cross above the city, whilst Colo- 
nel Wilson was to make a demonstration from Barita. 
The Mexicans then attempted to. induce General Taylor 
to agree to an armistice, that they might be able to carry 
off the public stores and munitions of war with which 



56 THE WAR. 



Capture of Ma.tamoras. 



Matamoras was filled, but General Taylor was too well 
versed in Mexican cunning to be cajoled. He stated 
that he had offered an armistice a month before, which 
Ampudia had declined ; that he had neither invited nor 
provoked hostilities, but that he would not now suspend 
them while he was receiving large reinforcements ; that 
the possession of Matamoras was now necessary to his 
troops, but that the Mexican army might retire, leaving 
behind them public property of every description. The 
Mexican General Reguena promised to return wdth an 
answer at three o'clock but failed to keep his word ; the 
time of his mission and the interval allowed for his an- 
swer, being employed by Arista in throwing the public 
stores into the river, burying artillery in wells, and con- 
cealing other portions of the public property in and 
about the city. In the evening. General Taylor, finding 
that no answer had been returned, finished his prepara- 
tions for crossing early in the morning, w^hile Arista re- 
treated from the city, taking with him two pieces of 
artillery and four thousand men, and leaving behind his 
sick and wounded. 

On the morning of the 18th Captain Bliss had an inter- 
view with the prefect of the town, and demanded its 
surrender, and all the public stores therein. The 
prefect replied to the demand " that General Taylor 
could march his troops into the towm at any time that 
might suit his convenience." While this conversation 
Avas going on. Colonel Twiggs was crossing with his 
troops above the town, his band playing " Yankee Doo- 
dle." The other troops crossed at Matamoras, and the 
star-spangled banner speedily waved over the walls of 
Fort Paredes. 



THE WAR. 57 



Description of Matamoras. 



The best description of the taking of Matamoras that 
has yet appeared is given in the following sketch, by an 
officer of the army, who like many of the gallant war- 
riors now in Mexico, wields a pen with no less ability 
than he wears his sword. He says, "We reached this 
point on the 25th of May. The country through which 
we passed was lovely in the extreme — being as level as 
a ball-room floor, and full of little chaparrals and mus- 
keet groves. Our road, though not exactly following 
the meanderings of the river, touched its banks often 
enough to obtain water every mile or two. The citizens 
were friendly to us, and showed little displeasure at the 
invasion. In fact, some of them expressed their wish 
that the country should be governed by Americans or 
some other people, that would guaranty them a liberal 
or stable government, so much had they been annoyed 
by the internal convulsions of their own. At every house 
we found three or four men, which induced me to be- 
lieve that the press-gang had met with very poor success 
among them. They say that it is not their disposition 
to play the soldier at any time, particularly the present, 
and when the call is made for troops they leave their 
homes in possession of the women, and find business in 
the chaparral. They are a happy, simple people, whose 
aim seems to be to make provision for to-day, leaving 
to-morrow to look out for itself. All along the road 
they were found waiting with milk, a sort of bread, 
which they call tortillias, cheese, poloncas, or maple sugar, 
and a sort of liquor resembling, in looks and taste, San 
Croix rum. We paid them liberally for all we obtained, 
which to them must have presented a strong contrast to 
the Mexican soldiery, who spread dismay and devasta- 



58 THE 'WAR. 



Description of Matamoras. 



tion among their own people wherever they go. It seems 
to have been the desire of every man in our ranks to 
make the line of disparity between the American and 
Mexican soldier as palpable as possible ; and the good 
effect of such conduct, if not immediately developed, 
will in the course of time be more apparent. Our march 
was very heavy, particularly during the day we left the 
Baritas, and some of our young men were very much 
used up. Two from company A were so much affected 
by the scorching sun as to be unable to proceed farther, 
and stopped at the house of a Mexican, where they re- 
ceived the utmost kindness and attention during the 
night, and were furnished with horses in the morning to 
catch up with us. 

It was about ten o'clock in the morning when we 
reached the town of Matamoras, though its white build- 
ings, so different from those we had passed on the route, 
had attracted the eyes long before that time. There was 
something far more attractive to the eye than the white 
buildings of the town — something to awaken a thrill of 
pleasure in the breasts of the whole regiment — the stripes 
and stai's were majestically floating in the breeze from 
the highest point in Matamoras, and between the river 
and the town hundreds and hundreds of white tents 
were pitched in such admirable order as to induce the 
beholder to think it a great town. 

As we entered the town at the east end, thousands of 
people sallied out of their houses to look upon us, whose 
looks more bespoke a welcome to their own army than 
to that of the invaders. At many a half-opened door 
or window was to be seen the head of a senora, whose 
timidity or modesty (albeit they allow so little to the 



THE WAR. 59 



Description of Mataraoras. 



Mexicans) forbade their emerging into the streets. Some 
of these women are indeed beautiful, though a great 
majority are indolent, slovenly, and destitute of that fe- 
male delicacy which characterizes our own women. 
Their common dress is a white muslin skirt, tied quite 
loosely around the body, without any bodice ; their 
chemise being the only covering for their breasts, in 
which they wear their jewelry and cross. I did not see 
one pair of stockings in all the town. From this style 
of dressing you will infer that pride of dress gives way 
to comfort and ease, and that, too, in a greater degree 
than I think the largest liberty would warrant them in- 
dulging in. I went into a house yesterday evening, 
occupied by an old man and two daughters, both speak- 
ing a sufficiency of English to be understood. After 
being seated for a few moments, the eldest of the daughters 
went to the bed and brought to me a lovely and interest- 
ing child, as white almost as any of our own people. 
She informed me that she was married about two years 
ago to a Texan prisoner, and that he had been killed 
whilst fighting under General Taylor. She spoke in the 
highest terms of her deceased lord, and seemed to wor- 
ship his image in the child. She is a lovely creature, 
and, I think, deeply devoted to our cause. 

Matamoras is a much handsomer place than I expected 
to find it. It covers two miles square, though by no 
means as compact as an American city — every house ex- 
cept those around the public square, has a large garden 
attached. The houses in the business part of the town 
are built after the American fashion, though seldom ex- 
ceeding two stories in height. All the windows to these 
buildings are grated from top to bottom with iron bars, 



60 THE WAR. 



Description of Mataraoras. 



and half of the door only opens for admittance, which 
gives them the appearance of prisons more than business 
houses. The public square is in the centre of the town, 
and must have been laid off by an American or Euro- 
pean, for the Mexicans never could have laid it out with 
such beauty and precision. On the four sides of the 
square, the hoirses are built close together, as in block, 
and are of the same size and height, with the exception 
of the cathedral, which, though unfinished, still towers 
above the others. In these houses are sold dry goods, 
groceries, and every kind of wares, Avith now and then 
an exchange or coffee-house. They are principally oc- 
cupied by Europeans, and you can hear French, English, 
Spanish, and German spoken at the same time. After 
leaving the public square on either side, the houses de- 
crease in size and beauty for two or three squares, when 
the small reed and thatched huts commence, and con- 
tinue to the extreme limits of the place. 

In walking through the streets, my attention was at- 
tracted to a house, in the door of which stood, or leaned, 
two half-naked Mexicans, so wobegone as to cause me 
to halt. On my nearing the door, a most disagreeable 
stench almost induced me to recede. I mustered courage 
to enter the door. On the floor, lying upon mats, with- 
out covering, were near fifty Mexicans, wounded in the 
late engagements, attended by some ten or twelve women. 
The smell of the place was insufferable, and I had to 
leave it. The next door was the same, and so on for 
about twenty houses. A friend of mine called my atten- 
tion to a room in which there were at least forty of these 
miserable objects, and this room was scarcely twelve 
feet square. There was not positively room for the nurses 



THE WAR. 61 



Colonel Twiggs governor of Matamoras. 



to attend them. Some had lost a leg, others an arm, 
and some both legs and arms. I noticed one who will 
certainly get well, whose legs were shot off within two 
or three inches above the knees, and he seemed to me 
to have a greater flow of spirits than some who had only 
flesh wounds. I said to him that had his wounds been 
made by a Mexican shot, he would have been dead, to 
which he replied, ' The American shot was very good — 
no poisonous copper in them!' One had died just be- 
fore I had entered the room, and they were making pre- 
parations to carry him out. He had been shot in the 
mouth by a rifle ball, which passed under the left ear, and 
he had lived from the 9th up to this time. There are 
between three hundred and fifty and four hundred of 
these horrid objects in this place, and the sight of them 
would induce many a stout heart to lament the horrors 
of war. These men give the number of killed and 
wounded on the 9th much greater than the Americans 
ever claimed, — some say twelve hundred, and some, 
fifteen hundred, — but enough of them." 

Colonel Twiggs was appointed governor of Matamo- 
ras, and immediately afterwards the prefect or former 
governor retired in disgust. Don Jesus Cardenus, for 
that was his name, appears to have been distinguished 
for his tyranny and his hatred to foreigners. The only 
care he expressed in surrendering the city was whether 
he could retain his oflice ; the privileges or interests of 
the citizens being matters of no consequence to him. 

General Taylor issued orders to his men to respect 
strictly the private property of the citizens, and per- 
mitted the latter to go on with their business as usual, 
prohibiting only the sale of intoxicating liquors. '' The 

6 



62 THE WAR. 



Behaviour of our army after victory. 



people had been told," says Captain Henry, in his Cam- 
paign Sketches, ^' they would be persecuted *for con- 
science' sake ;' that we would tolerate no religion but 
the protestant; and their priests have added all the fuel 
to the flame they could to produce the impression among 
these poor, ignorant creatures that we were a set of 
savage barbarians. Our acts, both civil and military, 
and now religious, will prove the contrary, and will 
open their eyes to the magnitude of the attempted de- 
ception. 

The behaviour of our army after the victory is as 
highly honourable as the victories themselves. In taking 
possession of Matamoras we have not interfered with 
either the civil or religious rights of the inhabitants. 
Their courts of justice are still held, the most perfect 
respect is paid to law and order, and every infraction 
of either is severely punished. The army instead of 
entering the city as conquerors, encamped quietly in the 
suburbs. Instead of taking possession of their houses 
for our men, we remain under miserable canvass, which 
affords no protection from the storm, and scarcely shade 
to protect the soldier from the noonday sun. Many 
have no tents, and yet, under these circumstances no 
building is occupied : those taken for storehouses and 
public offices are regularly rented. By such conduct we 
have restored confidence to the people ; the citizens 
mingle freely among us, walk through our camp, and 
feel sure of protection. Such conduct should make our 
countrymen proud of their army." 

On the day following the taking of Matamoras, Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Garland, with all the cavalry of the army, 
about two hundred and fifty dragoons and Rangers, 



THE WAR. 63 



Pursuit of Arista. 



started in pursuit of the retreating Mexicans, with orders 
to harass their march, and to capture prisoners and bag- 
gage. He succeeded in capturing a small rear party, after 
a skirmish, in which two Mexicans were killed and 
twenty-two taken prisoners, and one wagon with ammu- 
nition and clothing of an artillery company. The army of 
Arista was twenty-four hours in advance of this pursuing 
party, retreating in good order. The Americans having 
stopped at a ranche, the proprietor asked Captain Gra- 
ham, with some appearance of astonishment, whither 
they were going. He w^as told that they were pursuing 
the retreating Mexican army. His astonishment was 
now still more increased, as he asserted that General 
Arista had stopped at his house on the night before, and 
had informed him that he had conquered the Americans, 
and was then on his way to Mexico to bear the news. 
The scarcity of water, with the barrenness of the coun- 
try, and the jaded condition of the horses, compelled 
Colonel Garland to return on the 22d, and his pursuit 
of Arista closes the history of the opening of the war on 
the banks of the Rio Grande. 

Large numbers of volunteers, called out by the go- 
vernment to reinforce the gallant commander, having 
arrived on the Rio Grande, General Taylor determined 
to move forward into Mexico, that they might not be- 
come dispirited by inaction. He despatched Colonel 
Wilson to scour the country in advance, and if possible 
to capture some of the Mexican towns near the river. 
This party soon got possession of Mier, Reynosa, and 
Camargo. The last named town, it had been directed, 
should be entered by a party of Texan Rangers from 
the rear, while a small party of regulars should approach 



64 THE WAR. 



Taking of Camargo. 



it in front. The steamer containing the regulars was 
groping along at night a little south of the town, the 
pilot being altogether ignorant of the river, and the com- 
mander equally doubtful as to his reception by the towns- 
men. A light was seen glimmering on shore. The 
pilot neared it, and demanded to know in Spanish, "-De 
quien es ese rancho?" 

" 'Tis my rancho," answered a good Yankee voice 
from out the chaparral. " 'Tis my rancho, and who has 
any claims against it ?" 

"If you are an American, come on board." 

" I w^ill at once, soldier," said a stalwart man, stepping 
on the deck of the steamer. '* I hail you in these parts, 
for I have been sleeping out some dozen nights, afraid 
of the treachery of the Mexicans ; not that I fear them 
in 'd^fair fight, of a dozen or more at me at once, but I 
could not stand five hundred." 

Herew^as an enterprising American, full of patriotism, 
on "the search for town sites on the Rio Grande;" he 
knew the people well, and ere the day had fairly dawned, 
he had completed all the preliminaries of the surrender 
of Camargo, and at the head or the heel of our troops, 
as suited his humour best, he entered the city.* 

Captain Duncan was sent forward on the 14th of 
August, with a small command, to Seralvo, sixty miles 
above Mier, for the purpose of making a reconnois- 
sance. On the road, half way to Seralvo, he entered 
Punta Aguada, a town of four hundred inhabitants, said 
to be the head-quarters of Canales, and in which Captain 
Duncan expected to find some of his robber band. His 



Our Army at Monterey. 



THE WAR. 65 



Captain Duncan's adventure, and Capture of Seralvo. 

force was divided, marched into the town from all sides, 
and met in the centre, without alarming the people, who 
were now found to be engaged in an absorbing fandango. 
The consternation caused by the entrance of the Rangers 
into the ball-room, can be better imagined than de- 
scribed. The gallant captain, however, ordered the 
music to proceed, led off the dance with the belle of the 
room, and then, bidding them adieu, gained quiet pos- 
session of Seralvo before daybreak. 

On the 18th of August, General Taylor having learned 
the nature of the route from Captain Duncan, organized 
the regular army, and ordered General Worth to take up 
the line of march for Seralvo on the next day. 

The first division of the army, commanded by Gene- 
ral Twiggs, consisted of the second dragoons, first, 
second, third, and fourth regiments of infantry, and 
Bragg's and Ridgely's artillery. The second division, 
under General Worth, consisted of the artillery battalion 
serving as infantry, the fifth, seventh, and eighth infantry, 
Duncan's battery, and Captain Blanchard's Louisiana 
volunteers. 

On the 6th of August, General Taylor moved to join 
the advance under General Worth at Seralvo, leaving 
General Patterson in command at Camargo. At Seralvo 
it was first learned definitely that Ampudia had arrived 
at Monterey with a large force, and that the city was 
perfectly fortified, and would make a stout defense. 
The march to Monterey was now arranged in every par- 
ticular. Major-General Butler arrived, and the volun- 
teer division was concentrated in the vicinity of Seralvo. 
It was composed of the first Mississippi regiment, under 
Colonel Jefferson Davis, the first Tennessee, under 
E 6* 



66 THE WAR. 



Arrangements of Forces. 



Colonel Campbell, the first Ohio, under Colonel A. M. 
Mitchell, the Baltimore battalion, under Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel W. H. Watson. On the 11th September, the fol- 
lowing order was issued : 

''1. As the army may expect to meet resistance in the 
further advance towards Monterey, it is necessary that 
its march should be conducted with all proper precau- 
tion to meet attack and secure the baggage and supplies. 

From this point, the following will be the order of 
march, until otherwise directed: 

2. All the pioneers of the army consolidated into one 
party, will march early to-morrow on the route to Marin, 
for the purpose of repairing the roads, and rendering it 
practicable for artillery and wagons. The pioneers of 
each division will be under a subaltern, to be especially 
detailed for the duty, and the whole be under command 
of Captain Craig, third infantry, who will report to 
head-quarters for instructions. This pioneer party will 
be covered by a squadron of dragoons, and Captain 
McCulloch's company of Rangers. Two officers of 
topographical engineers, to be detailed by Captain 
Williams, will accompany the party for the purpose of 
examining the route. Two wagons will be provided by 
the quartermaster's department for the transportation of 
the tools, provisions, and knapsacks of the pioneer party. 

3. The first division will march on the 13th instant, 
to be followed on successive days by the second divi- 
sion and field division of volunteers. The head-quarters 
will march with the first division. Captain Gillespie, 
with half of his company, w^ill report to Major-General 
Butler; the other half, under the first lieutenant, to 
Brigadier-General Worth. These detachments will be 



THE WAR. 67 



Arrangements of Forces. 



employed for outposts and videttes, and as expresses 
between the columns and head-quarters. 

4. The subsistence supplies will be divided between 
the three columns, the senior commissary of each di- 
vision receipting for the stores and being charged with 
their care and management. The senior commissaries 
of divisions will report to Captain Waggaman for this 
duty. 

5. Each division will be followed immediately by its 
baggage train and supply train, with a strong rear-guard. 
The ordnance train under Captain Ramsay will march 
with the second division, between its baggage and sup- 
ply train, and will come under the protection of the 
guard of that division. The medical supplies will, in 
like manner, march wdth the first division. 

6. The troops will take eight days' rations and forty 
rounds of ammunition. All surplus arms and accoutre- 
ments, resulting from casualties on the road, will be de- 
posited with Lieutenant Stew^irt, left in charge of the 
depot at this place, who will give certificates of deposit 
to the company commanders. 

7. The wagons appropriated for transportation of 
water, will not be required, and will be turned over to 
the quartermaster's department for general purposes. 

8. Two companies of the Mississippi regiment will be 
designated for the garrison of this place. All sick and 
disabled men, unfit for the march, will be left behind, 
under charge of a medical officer to be selected for this 
duty by the medical director." 

The first division accordingly took up the line of 
march on the 13th, the army finding the Mexican gene- 
ral, Torrejon, with a large cavalry force constantly in 



68 THE WAR. 



Arrival of General HendPerson with Texas troops. 

their vicinity. On the 14th General Ampudia issued 
from Monterey an address to his soldiers — in which 
he promised them certain victory, and volunteered for 
them the assurance to the government that they were 
worthy sons of the immortal Hidalgo, Morelo, Iturbide, 
and others who knew how to die combating for the in- 
dependence of their cherished country." On the fol- 
lowing day he issued another address, holding out 
inducements to General Taylor's troops to desert. On 
the 16th and 17th the army was concentrated at Marin, 
and rested there from the fatiguing march. The Spanish 
consul at Monterey sent a messenger to General Taylor 
to know if the property of foreigners would be respected. 
General Taylor informed him that he would be responsi- 
ble for nothing in case the town was taken by an assault. 
On the 18th the army resumed its march, and reached 
the town of San Francisco. On this day General Hen- 
derson joined General Taylor with Wood's and Hays' 
regiment of mounted Texans, which numbered eleven 
hundred men. The old padre of the village of San 
Francisco informed General Taylor that the most deter- 
mined opposition would be made at Monterey, General 
Ampudia having determined only to surrender the city 
with his life. 

On the 19th of September the army reached the vici- 
nity of Monterey. The troops marched in order of bat- 
tle; first General Taylor and staff, with a number of 
officers ; then followed the advanced guard, McCulloch's 
and Gillespie's rangers. The brigade of General Hen- 
derson came next ; then the first division under General 
Twiggs, and the second, under General Worth, and 
lastly the volunteer division under General Butler. We 



THE WAR. 71 

Account of anival at Monterey. 

give an extract respecting the arrival at Monterey, from 
Mr. Thorpe's valuable work, " Our Army at Monterey." 
^' The beautiful grove of St. Domingo was passed, 
when the city burst upon the sight in all its splendour. 
The mists still clung around the turrets of its churches, 
and enveloped its commanding heights ; but the ascend- 
ing sun constantly dissipated the veil, until palace and 
hill, barricade and fort, with long lines of tents and 
pendent flags presented themselves, as if floating in the 
pure ether with which they were surrounded. All was 
silent ; not a breath of air stirred ; dewy softness rested 
upon every thing. Suddenly a hot sulphurous smoke 
rose quickly from one of the bastions of the citadel, a 
heavy cannon-shot cleared the air with its hissing sound, 
and long before its booming sound was heard, two more 
in quick succession followed ; one of the deadly missiles 
ricochetted directly over General Taylor's head, and, 
just beyond him, ploughed deeply in the earth. 

A cry of exultation followed from those who witnessed 
it, which was taken up by the long lines of advancing 
troops, until it was carried miles in the rear, the shouts 
mingling strangely with the ten thousand echoes that 
were awakened among the mountains, by the firing of 
the heavy artillery that announced that the battle of 
Monterey had begun. 

The first division accelerated its speed, and quickly 
arrived where General Taylor had halted, when it formed 
into order of battle ; while this was being done, the 
gallant chiefi;ain, surrounded by his staff, coolly, through 
his glass, examined the defenses of the city, when orders 
were issued for tlie army to encamp at the beautiful grove 
of St. Domingo, so recently passed. 



72 THE WAR. 



General Taylor's despatch. 



The attack upon Monterey was arranged to be made 
by two divisions of the army, acting separately and in- 
dependently. General Taylor, assisted by General But- 
ler, commanded that directed against the city itself, 
while General Worth was detached to storm the Bishop's 
Palace, and the other forts outside of Monterey. 

For the account of the conduct and achievements of 
the division under General Taylor, we have his own 
despatch, clear, succinct, and satisfactory, as are all the 
papers he has written concerning his operations. 

" Sir : — I have now the honour to submit a detailed 
report of the recent operations before Monterey, result- 
ing in the capitulation of that city. 

The information received on the route from Seralvo, 
and particularly the continual appearance in our front 
of the Mexican cavalry, which had a slight skirmish 
with our advance at the village of Ramas, induced the 
belief, as we approached Monterey, that the enemy 
would defend that place. Upon reaching the neigh- 
bourhood of the city on the morning of the 19th of 
September, this belief was fully confirmed. It w^as 
ascertained that he occupied the town in force ; that a 
large work had been constructed commanding all the 
northern approaches ; and that the Bishop's Palace, and 
some heights in its vicinity near the Saltillo road, had 
also been fortified, and occupied with troops and artil- 
lery. It was known, from information previously re- 
ceived, that the eastern approaches were commanded 
by several small works in the lower edge of the city. 

The configuration of the heights and gorges in the 
direction of the Saltillo road, as visible from the point 
attained by our advance on t*he morning of the 19th, led 



THE WAR. 75 



General Taylor's despatch. 



me to suspect that it was practicable to turn all the 
works in that direction, and thus cut off the enemy's 
line of communication. After establishing my camp at 
the ' Walnut Springs,' three miles from Monterey, the 
nearest suitable position, it was, accordingly, my first 
care to order a close reconnoissance of the ground in 
question, which was executed on the evening of the 
19th, by the engineer officers under the direction of 
Major Mansfield. A reconnoissance of the eastern ap- 
proaches was at the same time made by Captain Wil- 
liams, topographical engineer. The examination made 
by Major Mansfield proved the entire practicability of 
throwing forward a column to the Saltillo road, and thus 
turning the position of the enemy. Deeming this to be 
an operation of essential importance, orders were given 
to Brevet Brigadier-General Worth, commanding the 
second division, to march with his command on the 
23th ; to turn the hill of the Bishop's Palace : to occupy 
a position on the Saltillo road, and to carry the enemy's 
detached works in that quarter, where practicable. The 
first regiment ef Texas mounted volunteers, under com- 
mand of Colonel Hays, was associated with the second 
division on this service. Captain Sanders, engineers, 
and Lieutenant Meade, topographical engineers, were 
also ordered to report to General Worth for duty with 
his column. 

At two o'clock p. M. on the 20th, the 2d division took 
up its march. It was soon discovered, by officers who 
were reconnoitering the town, and communicated to 
General Worth, that its movement had been perceived, 
and that the enemy was throwing reinforcements towards 
the Bishop's Palace, and the height which commands it. 



76 T H E W A R. 



General Taylor's desxatcb. 



To divert his attention as far as practicable, the 1st 
division, under Brigadier-General Twiggs, and field 
division of volunteers, under Major- General Butler, were 
displayed in front of the town until dark. Arrange- 
ments were made at the same time to place in battery, 
during the night, at a suitable distance from the enemy's 
main work, the citadel, two twenty-four-pound howit- 
zers, and a ten-inch mortar, with a view to open a fire 
on the following day, when I proposed to make a diver- 
sion in favour of General Worth's movement. The 4th 
infantry covered this battery during the night. General 
Worth had in the mean time reached and occupied, for 
the night, a defensive position just w^ithout range of a 
battery aboVe the Bishop's Palace, having made a re- 
connoissance as far as the Saltillo road. 

Before proceeding to report the operations of the 21st 
and the following days, I beg leave to state that I shall 
mention in detail only those which were conducted 
against the eastern extremity of the city, or elsew^here, 
under my immediate direction, referring you for the 
particulars of General Worth's operations, which were 
entirely detached, to his own full report transmitted 
herewith. 

Early on the morning of the 21st, I received a note 
from General Worth, written at half past nine o'clock 
the night before, suggesting what I had already intended, 
a strong diversion against the centre and left of the town, 
to favour his enterprise against the heights in rear. 
The infantry and artillery of the 1st division, and the 
field division of volunteers, were ordered under arms, 
and took the direction of the city, leaving one company 
of each regiment as a camp guard. The second dra- 



THE WAR. 77 



General Taylor's despatch. 



goons, under Lieutenant-Colonel May, and Colonel 
Woods' regiment of Texas mounted volunteers, under 
the immediate direction of General Henderson, were 
directed to the right to support General Worth, if ne- 
cessary, and to make an impression, if practicable, upon 
the upper quarter of the city. Upon approaching the 
mortar battery, the 1st and 3d regiments of infantry, and 
battalion of Baltimore and Washington volunteers, with 
Captain Bragg's field battery — the whole under the com- 
mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Garland — were directed 
towards the lower part of the town, with orders to make 
a strong demonstration, and carry one of the enemy's 
advanced works, if it could be done without too heavy 
loss. Major Mansfield, engineers, and Captain Wil- 
liams and Lieutenant Pope, topographical engineers, 
accompanied this column. Major Mansfield being charged 
with its direction, and the designation of points of attack. 
In the mean time, the mortar, served by Captain Ram- 
say, of the ordnance, and the howitzer battery under 
Captain Webster, 1st artillery, had opened their fire 
upon the citadel, which was deliberately sustained, and 
answered from the work. General Butler's division 
had now taken up a position in rear of this battery, when 
the discharges of artillery, mingled finally with a rapid 
fire of small arms, showed that Lieutenant Garland's 
command had become warmly engaged. I now deemed 
it necessary to support this attack, and accordingly 
ordered the 4th infantry, and three regiments of Gene- 
ral Butler's division, to march at once, by the left flank, 
in the direction of the advanced work at the lower ex- 
tremity of the town, leaving one regiment (1st Ken- 
tucky) to cover . the mortar and howitzer battery. By 

7* 



78 THE WAR. 



General Taylor's despatcla. 



some mistake, two companies of the 4th infantry did 
not receive this order, and, consequently, did not join 
the advance companies until some time afterwards. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Garland's command had ap- 
proached the town in a direction to the right of the ad- 
vanced work (No. 1,) at the north-eastern angle of the 
city, and the engineer officer, covered by skirmishers, 
had succeeded in entering the suburbs and gaining 
cover. The remainder of this command now advanced 
and entered the town under a heavy fire of artillery from 
the citadel and the works on the left, and of musketry 
from the houses and small works in front. A movement 
to the right was attempted, with a view to gain the rear 
of No. 1, and carry that work, but the troops were so 
much exposed to a fire which they could not effectually 
return, and had already sustained such severe loss, par- 
ticularly in officers, that it was deemed best to withdraw 
them to a more secure position. Captain Backus, 1st 
infantry, however, with a portion of his own and other 
companies, had gained the roof of a tannery, which 
looked directly into the gorge of No. 1, and from which 
he poured a most destructive fire into that work and 
upon the strong building in its rear. This fire happily co- 
incided in point of time with the advance of a portion 
of the volunteer division upon No. 1, and contributed 
largely to the fall of that strong and important work. 

The three regiments of the volunteer division, under 
the immediate command of Major-General Butler, had 
in the mean time advanced in the direction of No. 1. 
The leading brigade, under Brigadier-General Quitman, 
continued its advance upon that work, preceded by 
three companies of the 4th infantry, while General But- 



THE WAR. 79 



General Taylor's despatch. 



ler, with the 1st Ohio regiment, entered the town to the 
right. The companies of the 4th infantry had advanced 
within short range of the work, when they were received 
by a fire that almost in one moment struck down one- 
third of the officers and men, and rendered it necessary 
to retire and effect a conjunction with the two other 
companies then advancing. General Quitman's brigade, 
though suffering most severely, particularly in the Ten- 
nessee regiment, continued its advance, and finally car- 
ried the work in handsome style, as well as the strong 
building in its rear. Five pieces of artillery, a consi- 
derable supply of ammunition, and thirty prisoners, in- 
cluding three officers, fell into our hands. 

Major-General Butler, with the 1st Ohio regiment, 
after entering the edge of the town, discovered that no- 
thing was to be accomplished in his front, and at this 
point, yielding to the suggestions of several officers, I 
ordered a retrograde movement ; but learning almost 
immediately from one of my staff, that the battery No. 
1 was in our possession, the order was countermanded, 
and I determined to hold the battery and defenses al- 
ready gained. General Butler, with the 1st Ohio regi- 
ment, then entered the town at a point farther to the 
left, and marched in the direction of the battery No. 2. 
While making an examination with a view to ascertain 
the possibility of carrying this second work by storm, 
the general was wounded and soon after compelled to 
quit the field. As the strength of No. 2, and the heavy 
musketry fire flanking the approach, rendered it im- 
possible to carry it without great loss, the 1st Ohio regi- 
ment was withdrawn from the town. 

Fragments of the various regiments engaged were 



80 THE WAR. 

* 



General Taylor's despatcli. 



now under cover of the captured battery and some 
buildings in its front and on the right. The field bat- 
tery of Captains Bragg and Ridgely was also partially 
covered by the battery. An incessant fire was kept on 
this position from battery No. 2, and other works on its 
right, and from the citadel on all our approaches. Gene- 
ral Twiggs, though quite unwell, joined me at this point, 
and was instrumental in causing the artillery captured 
from the enemy to be placed in battery, and served by 
Captain Ridgely, against No. 2, until the arrival of 
Captain Webster's howitzer battery, which took its place. 
In the mean time, I directed such men as could be col- 
lected of the 1st, 3d, and 4th regiments and Baltimore 
battalion, to enter the town, penetrating to the right, 
and carry the second battery if possible. This com- 
mand, under Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, advanced 
beyond the bridge ^Purisima,' when, finding it im- 
practicable to gain the rear of the second battery, a 
portion of it sustained themselves for some time in that 
advanced position; but as no permanent impression 
could be made at that point, and the main object of the 
general operation had been effected, the command, in- 
cluding a section of Captain Ridgely's battery, which 
had joined it, was withdrawn to battery No. 1. During 
the absence of this column, a demonstration of cavalry 
was reported in the direction of the citadel. Captain 
Bragg, who was at hand, immediately galloped with his 
battery to a suitable position, from which a few dis- 
charges effectually dispersed the enemy. Captain Mil- 
ler, 1st infantry, was despatched with a mixed command 
to support the battery on this service. The enemy's 
lancers had previously charged upon the Ohio and a part 



THE WAR. 81 



Gi neral Taylor's clespatcb. 



of the Mississippi regiments, near some fields at a dis- 
tance from the edge of the town, and had been repulsed 
with considerable loss. A demonstration of cavalry on 
the opposite side of the river was also dispersed in the 
course of the afternoon by Captain Ridgely's battery, 
and the squadrons returned to the city. At the ap- 
proach of evening all the troops that had been engaged 
were ordered back to the camp, except Captain Ridgely's 
battery and the regular infantry of the first division, who 
were detailed as a guard for the works during the night, 
under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Garland. One 
battalion of the 1st Kentucky regiment was ordered to 
reinforce this command. Intrenching tools were pro- 
cured, and additional strength was given to the works, 
and protection to the men, by working-parties during 
the night, under the direction of Lieutenant Scarritt, 
engineers. 

The main object proposed in the morning had been 
effected. A powerful diversion had been made to favour 
the operations of the 2d division, one of the enemy's 
advanced works had been carried, and we now had a 
strong foot-hold in the town. But this had not been 
accomplished without a very heavy loss, embracing 
some of our most gallant and accomplished officers. 
Captain Williams, topographical engineers; Lieute- 
nants Terrett and Dilworth, 1st infantry; Lieutenant 
Woods, 2d infantry; Captains Morris and Field, Brevet- 
Major Barbour, Lieutenants Irwin and Hazlitt, 3d in- 
fantry; Lieutenant Hoskins, 4th infantry; Lieutenant- 
Colonel Watson, Baltimore battalion; Captain Allen 
and Lieutenant Putnam, Tennessee regiment, and Lieu- 
tenant Hett, Ohio regiment, were killed, or have since 
F 



82 THE WAR. 



General Taylor's despatch. 



died of wounds received in this engagement, while the 
number and rank of the officers wounded gives addi- 
tional proof of the obstinacy of the contest, and the good 
conduct of our troops. The number of killed and 
wounded incident to the operations in the lower part of 
the city on the 21st is 394. 

Early in the morning of this day (21st) the advance 
of the 2d division had encountered the enemy in force, 
and after a brief but sharp conflict, repulsed him with 
heavy loss. General Worth then succeeded in gaining 
a position on the Saltillo road, thus cutting the enemy's 
line of communication. From this position the two 
heights south of the Saltillo road were carried in succes- 
sion, and the guns taken in one of them turned upon 
the Bishop's Palace. These important successes were 
fortunately obtained w^ith comparatively small loss : 
Captain McKavett, 8th infantry, being the only officer 
killed. 

The 22d day of September passed without any active 
operations in the lower part of the city. The citadel 
and other works continued to fire at parties exposed to 
their range, and at the work now occupied by our troops. 
The guard left in it the preceding night, except Captain 
Ridgely's company, w^as relieved at midday by General 
Quitman's brigade. Captain Bragg's battery was thrown 
under cover in front of the town, to repel any demon- 
stration of cavalry in that quarter. At dawn of day the 
height above the Bishop's Palace was carried, and soon 
after meridian the palace itself was taken, and its guns 
turned upon the fugitive garrison. The object for which 
the 2d division was detached had thus been completely 
accomplished, and I felt confident that with a strong 



THE WAR. 83 



General Taylor's d.esj)atch.. 



force occupying the road and heights in his rear, and a 
good position below the city in our possession, the enemy 
could not possibly maintain the town. 

During the night of the 22d the enemy evacuated 
nearly all his defenses in the lower part of the city. 
This was reported to me early in the morning of the 
23d, by General Quitman, who had already meditated 
an assault upon those works. I immediately sent in- 
structions to that officer, leaving it to his discretion to 
enter the city, covering his men by the houses and walls, 
and advance carefully so far as he might deem prudent. 

After ordering the remainder of the troops as a re- 
serve, under the orders of Brigadier-General Twiggs, I 
repaired to the abandoned works, and discovered that 
a portion of General Quitman's brigade had entered the 
town, and were successfully forcing their way towards 
the principal plaza. I then ordered up the 2d regiment 
of Texas mounted volunteers, who entered the city, dis- 
mounted, and, under the immediate orders of General 
Henderson, co-operated with General Quitman's brigade. 
Captain Bragg's battery was also ordered up, supported 
by the 3d infantry, and after firing for some time at the 
cathedral, a portion of it was likewise thrown into the 
city. Our troops advanced from house to house, and 
from square to square, until they reached a street but one 
square in rear of the principal plaza, in and near which 
the enemy's force was mainly concentrated. This ad- 
vance was conducted vigorously, but with due caution, 
and although destructive to the enemy, was attended 
with but small loss on our part. Captain Ridgely, in 
the mean time, had served a captured piece in battery 
No. 1 against the city, until the advance of our men 



84 THE WAR. 



General Taylor's despatch. 



rendered it imprudent to fire in the direction of the 
cathedral. I was now satisfied that we could operate 
successfully in the city, and that the enemy had retired 
from the lower portion of it to make a stand behind his 
barricades. As General Quitman's brigade had been on 
duty the previous night, I determined to withdraw the 
troops to the evacuated works, and concert with General 
Worth a combined attack upon the town. The troops 
accordingly fell back deliberately in good order, and 
resumed their original positions, General Quitman's 
brigade being relieved after nightfall by that of General 
Hamer. On my return to camp I met an officer with 
the intelligence that General Worth, induced by the 
firing in the lower part of the city, was about making 
an attack at the upper extremity, which had also been 
evacuated by the enemy to a considerable distance. I 
regreted that this information had not reached me before 
leaving the city, but still deemed it inexpedient to change 
my orders, and accordingly returned to camp. A note 
from General Worth, written at eleven o'clock p. m., in- 
formed me that he had advanced to within a short distance 
of the principal plaza, and that the mortar (which had 
been sent to his division in the morning) was doing good 
execution within effective range of the enemy's position. 

Desiring to make no farther attempt upon the city 
without complete concert as to the lines and mode of 
approach, I instructed that officer to suspend his advance 
until I could have an interview with him on the fol- 
lowing morning, at his head-quarters. 

Early in the morning of the 24th I received through 
Colonel Moreno, a communication from General Am- 
pudia, proposing to evacuate the town; which, with the 



THE WAR. 85 



Operations of General "Worth.. 



answer, were forwarded with my first despatch. I ar- 
ranged with Colonel Moreno a cessation of fire until 
twelve o'clock, at which hour I would receive the an- 
swer of the Mexican general at General Worth's head- 
quarters, to which I soon repaired. In the mean time, 
General Ampudia had signified to General Worth his 
desire for a personal interview with me, to which I 
acceded, and which finally resulted in a capitulation, 
placing the town and materiel of war, with certain ex- 
ceptions, in our possession. 

For the operations of General Worth, we have the 
following account by an intelligent eye witness. 

" At two p. M. of the 20th^ General Worth marched 
from the camp, east of the town, in the direction of the 
heights west, McCulloch's and Gillespie's companies of 
rangers forming the reconnoitering party. At night, the 
division bivouacked almost within range of the guns 
stationed upon the highest point of the hill on which the 
Bishop's Palace is situated. At daylight of the 21st, 
the column was again in motion, and in a few moments, 
was turning the point of a ridge, which protruded out 
toward the enemy's guns, bringing us as near to them 
as their gunners could desire. They immediately opened 
upon the column with a howitzer and twelve-pounder, 
firing shell and round-shot as fast as they could discharge 
their pieces. 

The road now wound in toward a gorge, but not 
far enough to be out of range of their guns, which still 
played upon us. Another ridge lay about three-fourths 
of a mile beyond the first, around the termination of 
which the road wound, bringing it under the lofty sum- 
mit of a height which rises between Palace Hill and the 

8 



86 THE WAR. 



Operations of General Worth... 



mountains, which arise over us on the west, When the 
head of the column approached this ridge, a body of 
Mexican cavalry came dashing around that point to 
charge upon our advance. Captain Gillespie immedi- 
ately ordered his men to dismount and place themselves 
in ambush. The enemy evidently did not perceive this 
manoeuver ; but the moment they came up, the Texans 
opened upon them a most destructive fire, unsaddling a 
number of them. McCulloch's company now dashed 
into them. Captain C. F. Smith's camp, and Captain 
Scott's camp of artillery, (acting as infantry,) and Lieu- 
tenant Longstreet's company of the eighth infantry, with 
another company of the same regiment, likewise charged 
upon the enemy. The Texan horsemen were soon 
engaged with them in a sort of hand-to-hand skirmish, 
in which a number of them fell, and one Texan was 
killed and two wounded. 

Colonel Duncan now opened upon them with his 
battery of light artillery, pouring a few discharges of 
grape upon them, and scattering them like chaff. Seve- 
ral men and horses fell under this destructive fire. I 
saw one horse and rider bound some feet into the air, 
and both fell dead and tumbled down the steep. The 
foot companies above named then rushed up the steep, 
and fired over the ridge at the retreating enemy, a con- 
siderable body of whom were concealed from our view, 
around the point of the hill. About thirty of the enemy 
w^ere killed in this skirmish, and among them a captain, 
who, with two or three others, fell in the road. The 
captain was wounded in three places, the last shot hitting 
him in the forehead. He fought gallantly to the last, 
and I am sorry that I cannot learn his name. 



T H E W A R. 89 



Operations of General Worth. 



The light batteries, one of which is commanded by- 
Lieutenant Mackall, were now driven upon the slope of 
the ridge, and the howitzers opened upon the height of 
Palace Hill. A few shots only were thrown, before the 
enemy commenced firing with a nine-pounder from the 
height immediately over the right of the column, aiming 
at Duncan's batteries. The several regiments took posi- 
tions, and a few more shells were thrown towards Palace 
Hill, but did no execution. The nine-pounder continued 
to throw its shot with great precision at our batteries, one 
ball falling directly in the midst of the pieces, but, for- 
tunately, hitting neither men nor guns. Finding his bat- 
teries thus exposed, and unable to effect any thing, 
Colonel Duncan removed his command to a rancho about 
half a mile farther up the Saltillo road, where General 
Worth took up his position, after ordering the foot regi- 
ments to form along the fence near the point of the ridge. 
The artillery battalion, 5th, 7th, and 8th infantry, and 
the Louisiana volunteers, remained in this position about 
two hours, directly under fire of the enemy's guns. The 
balls fell directly in their midst all this time without 
wounding a man ! To begin with, the Mexicans manage 
their artillery in battery as well as the Americans do — 
this, I believe, is now conceded by every officer. 

At half-past ten, the column moved towards the 
general's position. At this time. Captain McKavett of 
the 8th infantry, was shot through the heart by a nine- 
pound ball, and a private of the 5th infantry was severely 
wounded in the thigh, and he died the next morning. 
About fifty Mexicans now appeared upon the side hill 
over the moving column, and fired at our troops some 
hundred musket-shot, without doing any harm. The 

8* 



90 THE WAR. 



Operations of General Worth. 



division deployed into the position pointed out, and 
remained an hour or two, when Captain C. F, Smith of 
the artillery battalion, with his own company, and Cap- 
tain Scott's, together with four companies of Texan 
Rangers on foot, were ordered to storm the second 
height. This the gallant officer cheerfully undertook, 
and was followed with enthusiasm by the officers and 
men of his command. It was considered on all sides to 
be a dangerous undertaking, and his party was regarded 
most emphatically as a forlorn hope. That the height 
would be taken no one doubted, but that many brave 
fellows would fall in the attempt seemed inevitable. 
The distance to be climbed, after reaching the foot of 
the hill, was about a quarter of a mile ; a part of the 
way almost perpendicular, through thorn-bushes and over 
sharp-pointed rocks and loose sliding stones. 

The 7th infantry commanded by Captain Miles, was 
ordered to support Captain Smith's party, and by march- 
ing directly to the foot of the height, arrived before Cap- 
tain Smith, who had been ordered to take a circuitous 
route. Captain Miles sent up Lieutenant Gantt, with a 
detachment of men upon the hill-side, to divert the 
attention of the enemy from Captain Smith's command, 
which could not yet be seen. The 7th had already 
sustained a heavy fire of grape and round-shot, as they 
forded the San Juan, which winds round the foot of the 
height, and which fell like a shower of hail in their 
ranks without killing a man. Lieutenant Gantt's party 
were greeted with grape and round-shot, which cut the 
shrubs, and tore up the loose stones about the ranks, 
without killing any one ; but the gallant young officer 
came within an inch of being killed by a cannon-shot, 



THE WAR. 91 



Operations of General Worth, 



which ran down the steep and filled his face with frag- 
ments of rock, dust, and gravel. The fire was accom- 
panied by a constant discharge of musketry, the enemy 
covering the upper part of the hill-side ; but the detach- 
ment continued to move up, driving the Mexicans back, 
until they were recalled. 

Captain Smith's party now arrived and moved up the 
hill, the rangers in advance, and did not halt for an in- 
stant until the Mexicans were driven from the summit. 
Whilst this was going on. Colonel Persifer F. Smith, who 
commanded the 5th and 7th infantry — the 5th with 
Blanchard's Louisiana boys, under Major Martin Scott, 
had been ordered to support the whole — gave orders 
far these commands to pass around on each side and 
storm the fort, which was situated about half a mile back 
of the summit on the same ridge and commanded the 
Bishop's Palace. Such a foot-race as now ensued has 
seldom if ever been seen ; the Louisiana boys making tre- 
mendous strides to be in with the foremost. Captain Smith 
had the gun which he took upon the height, run towards 
the breast- works, and fired into it. Then came Colonel P. 
F. Smith's men, with a perfect rush, firing and cheering — 
the 5th and 7th, and Louisianians, reaching the ridge 
above nearly at the same time. The Mexicans fired at us 
with grape, but it did not cause an instant's hesitation in 
our ranks. Our men ran and fired, and cheered until they 
reached the work, the foremost entering at one end 
while the Mexicans, about a thousand in number, left 
the other in retreat. The colours of the 5th infantry 
were instantly raised, and scarcely were they up before 
those of the 7th were alongside. The three commands 
entered the fort together — so close was the race — the 5th 



92 THE WAR. 



Operations of General Worth. 



a little in advance. J. W. Miller, of Blanchard's com- 
pany, was among the first four or five who entered. The 
three commands may be said to have come out even in 
the race, for the 7th was not five seconds behind. In 
less than five minutes the gun found in the fort was 
thundering away at the Bishop's Palace. 

On the morning of the 21st, Colonel Childs of the 
artillery battalion, with three of his companies — one 
commanded by Captain Vinton, another by Captain J. 
B. Scott, and the third by Lieutenant Ayres — and three 
companies of the 8th infantry — company A, commanded 
by Lieutenant Longstreet and Wainright ; company B, 
by Lieutenant Halloway and Merchant ; company D, by 
Captain Schrivner and Lieutenant Montgomery — was 
ordered to take the summit of Palace Hill. 

The colonel left the camp at three o'clock a.m., and 
climbed the mountain through the chaparral, and up the 
steep rocks, with such secrecy, that at daybreak he was 
within one hundred yards of the breastwork of sandbags 
before he was discovered. Three of the artillerymen 
having rushed ahead too fast, found themselves in the 
hands of the Mexicans. They surrendered, and were 
shot down with the very pieces they had given up. I 
saw the poor fellows lying there. 

Colonel Staniford went up at daylight with the balance 
of the 8th, and Major Scott led up the 5th. The Louis- 
iana troops were on the hill, with the 5th, at 8 a.m. One 
of Duncan's howitzers, in charge of Lieutenant Row- 
land, was dragged up, or rather lifted up, and opened 
on the palace, which was filled with troops. The Mexi- 
cans charged on the howitzer, but were driven back. 
A constant firing w^as kept up for several hours, particu- 



THE WAR. 95 



Operations of General Worth. 



larly by Blanchard's men, who left a dozen Mexicans 
dead upon the hill-side. At length a charge was ordered, 
and our men rushed down upon the palace, entered a 
hole in a door that had been blocked up, but opened 
by the howitzer, and soon cleared the work of the few 
Mexicans who remained. Lieutenant Ayres was the 
lucky one who first reached the halyards and lowered 
the flag. One eighteen-pound brass piece, a beautiful 
article, manufactured in Liverpool in 1842, and a short 
brass twelve-pound howitzer, were captured, with a large 
quantity of ammuniti n, and some muskets and lances. 

The fort adjoining the palace walls is not complete, 
but is very neatly constructed as far as it is built. The 
killed on our side, in taking the palace, were seven — 
wounded, twelve. Lieutenant Wainright was wounded 
in the side and arm by a musket-ball. Colonel Childs, 
Captain Vinton, Captain Blanchard, Lieutenant Long- 
street, Lieutenant Clark, (adjutant of the 8th,) Lieute- 
nant Ayres, Lieutenant McCown, and the two Nicholls, 
seem to have been the heroes of the day. The two lat- 
ter performed prodigies, and not only Judge Nicholls, 
but old Louisiana may well be proud of such sons. The 
Mexicans lost at least thirty killed. 

Yesterday morning the whole division under Gene- 
ral Worth entered the town on this side, and have been 
fighting there ever since. The heart of the city is 
nothing but one fortification, the thick walls being 
pierced for muskets and cannon, and placed so as to 
rake the principal streets. The roofs being flat, and 
the front walls rising three or four feet above the roof, 
of course every street has a line of breastworks on each 
side, A ten-inch mortar came around from General 



96 THE WAR. 



Proposals for the surrender of Monterey. 



Taylor last evening, and it is now placed in the largest 
plaza, to which our troops have fought step by step and 
from house to house. Duncan's batteries are in town, 
and the present impression is that the places will soon 
be taken. General Worth has gained all the strong- 
holds that command the city, and has pushed the enemy 
as far as they can go without falling into General Tay- 
lor's hands on the other side of the city. All this has 
been done wdth the loss of only about seventy killed 
and wounded." 

At noon on the 22d, while the American troops were 
closely engaged in the lower part of the city. General 
Taylor received by a flag a communication from the 
governor of the state of New Leon, asking him to grant 
a sufficient time for the inhabitants to leave the city ; 
which General Taylor declined. Early on the morning 
of the 24th, a flag was received from the town, bear- 
ing a communication from General Ampudia, proposing 
an evacuation of the city and fort, with all the personel 
and materiel of war. General Taylor, in reply, declined 
the proposition, and demanded a complete surrender 
of the town and garrison, offering in consideration of 
the gallant defense that had been made, to allow the 
garrison to retire to- the interior after laying down its 
arms, on condition of not serving again during the war. 
A cessation of hostilities, until twelve o'clock, was ar- 
ranged. 

Before that hour, however. General Ampudia had 
signified to General Worth his desire for a personal 
interview with General Taylor, for the purpose of making 
some definitive arrangement. An interview was accord- 
ingly appointed for one o'clock, and resulted in the 



THE WAR. 97 



Terms of capitulation. 



naming of a commission to draw up articles of agree- 
ment regulating the withdrawal of the Mexican forces, 
and a temporary cessation of hostilities. The commis- 
sioners named by the Mexican general-in-chief were 
Generals Ortega and Requena, and Don Emanuel M. 
Llano, governor of New Leon. Those named on the 
American side were General Worth, General Henderson, 
governor of Texas, and Colonel Davis, Mississippi 
volunteers. 

This commission finally settled upon the articles of 
capitulation. The details of the negotiations are reserved 
as part of the personal history of the commissioners, 
and will be found in another place. 

By the terms of capitulation, it was agreed that the 
Mexican officers should retain their side arms, and the 
infantry and cavalry their arms and accoutrements, the 
artillery one field battery of six pieces ; that, surrender- 
ing the city, fortifications, cannon, munitions of war, and 
public stores, to General Taylor, they should evacuate 
the city and retire, within seven days, beyond the line 
formed by the pass of Rinconada, the city of Linares, 
and San Fernando de Presas ; and that this line should 
not be crossed by the Americans before the expiration 
of eight weeks, unless the respective governments should 
refuse to ratify the terms of this truce. 

Monterey and its fortifications were armed with forty- 
two pieces of cannon, well supplied with ammunition, 
and manned with a force of at least seven thousand 
troops of the line, and from two to three thousand irre- 
gulars. The force under General Taylor was four hun- 
dred and twenty-five officers, and six thousand two 
hundred and twenty men. Our artillery consisted of 
G 



98 THE WAR. 



Bravery of the American troops. 



one ten-inch mortar, two twenty-four-poimd howitzers, 
and four light field batteries of four guns each — the 
mortar being the only piece suited to the operations of 
a siege. The American loss was twelve officers and 
one hundred eight men killed, thirty-one officers and 
three hundred and thirty-seven men wounded. The 
loss of the enemy was much greater. 

The storming of Monterey requires no comment. A 
city surrounded by high massive walls which supported 
strong redoubts, with every street swept by cross ffi-es 
of artillery, and every house a fortification in itself, was 
attacked and carried by an army numbering scarcely 
more than half of the defenders, inferior in artillery and 
small arms, and obliged to divide its small force to resist 
the cannonade of another fortification, the Bishop's 
Palace, nearly as strong as the city itself. 

Such an event can only be attributed to the national 
coolness and intrepidity of the assailants, aided by their 
good discipline, the example of their officers and the 
unsurpassed ability of their commanding general. The 
glory of the victors at Cuidad Rodrigo pales before 
that of the Americans at Monterey. 

The troops of General Taylor proved themselves to 
be possessed of a still higher attribute of the soldier than 
the most fearless bravery : the finer feelings of men calm 
in the moment of victory, and possessed of minds prin- 
cipled of humanity, which the most desperate resistance 
could not excite to a single deed of cruelty. In their 
retreat from Monterey, the enemy destroyed every thing 
in their route that might be of service to the invading 
army. The water streams were stopped or filled up, 
the wells destroyed, provisions carefully removed, and 



THE WAR. 



99 



paTedes. 




Paredes. 



even private property ruthlessly consumed by the torch. 
Meanwhile, they made every effort to organize a new army 
in the interior, and declared that the loss of Monterey was 
owing only to the incapacity of Ampudia, who was ordered 
to be tried by court-martial. General Herrera had been 
president of Mexico when the war was first threatened, 
but his inclination to avoid hostilities had caused him to 
be deprived of power, and Paredes assumed the reins of 
government, and the responsibility of the war. Being 
unsuccessful, however, he lost caste with his countrymen, 
who now began to look for another ruler. Several lead- 
ers presented themselves, each at the head of a small 



100 THE WAR. 



Santa Anna lands at Vera Cruz. 



army, and each breathing implacable hostility to the 
United States. In the mean time a party had arisen 
favourable to the recall of Santa Anna, who had been 
exiled in 1844, and was living at Havana. A pro- 
clamation was issued at Mexico, inviting the return of 
all Mexicans faithful to their country, Santa Anna being 
named as one, and appointed general-in-chief ; and call- 
ing for a meeting of a congress of representatives to be 
chosen according to the repudiated constitution of 1824, 
under which Mexico w^as a federal republic, similar to 
that of the United States. This was the production of 
General Salas, wdio was the avowed supporter of Santa 
Anna, and who had been elevated to the presidency. 

On the 16tli of August, Santa Anna landed at Vera 
Cruz, having been allowed to pass the American block- 
ading squadron, in the British mail steamer Arab. On 
the 14th of September, when he had reached Ayotla, 
he received and accepted a commission appointing him 
supreme dictator. On the next day he entered the capital 
and was received with every demonstration of joy and 
confidence. He issued a proclamation calling upon the 
people to support him in defending the country. The 
American government had refused to sanction the con- 
ditional armistice of eight weeks, provided for by one 
of the articles of capitulation at Monterey, and directed 
General Taylor to resume hostilities. That officer there- 
fore addressed a letter to Santa Anna notifying him of 
the renewal of hostilities, and making a request for the 
release of certain prisoners at San Luis Potosi. Santa 
Anna acknowledged the receipt of the letter in a cour- 
teous and dignified manner, acquiesced in the conclusion 
of the armistice, and complied in a liberal manner with 



THE WAR. 



101 



Taylor marches to Victoria. 




Sania Anna. 



the request concerning the prisoners. Pie soon found 
himself at the head of an army of twenty thousand men, 
who regarded him as invincible. 

Meanwhile, the Americans were not idle. General 
Worth had moved with fifteen hundred men upon Sal- 
tillo and taken it, and Parras had fallen into the hands 
of General Wool. In December, General Santa Anna 
threatened to attack the American forces in Saltillo, and 
General Urrea was reported to be in the vicinity of Vic- 
toria. General Taylor marched to the latter place, which 
he reached on the 30th of December. Here he received 

9* 



102 THE WAR. 



Taylor's address to hia soldiers. 



a letter from General Scott, requesting a large detach- 
ment of his troops, which was to increase the army 
destined to capture Vera Cruz. No soldier could feel 
more keenly than General Taylor the disappointment to 
which he was thus subjected : to lose the veterans who 
had won for him so great glory, and be at the same time 
reduced from a victorious position to one of comparative 
inaction. Yet he cheerfully obeyed the command. At 
parting with his troops he issued the following address 
to them : 

"It is with deep sensibility that the commanding 
general finds himself separated from the troops he so long 
commanded. To those corps, regular and volunteer, 
who have shared with him the active services of the 
field, he feels the attachment due to such associations, 
while to those who are making their first campaign, he 
must express his regret that he cannot participate with 
them in its eventful scenes. To all, both officers and 
men, he extends his heartfelt wishes for their continued 
success and happiness, confident that their achievements 
on another theatre will redound to the credit of their 
country and to them." 

After they had left him, he again established his head- 
quarters at Monterey, where he remained until February. 
In that month, his force was raised to nearly five thou- 
sand, by the arrival of a considerable number of volun- 
teers. He then marched from Monterey to Agua Nueva, 
a place eighteen miles below Saltillo. 

He retired, however, on the approach of Santa Anna, 
to Buena Vista, a strong position a few miles south of 
Saltillo. Here he was attacked by Santa Anna, on the 
21st of February. That general seems to have been for 



THE WAR. 103 



Santa Anna's address. 



a considerable time wavering as to the course he should 
pursue ; at one time threatening to march to Vera Cruz, 
then turning to quell an insurrection at the capital, and 
again manoeuvering in the vicinity of Saltillo. At length 
he issued an address to his companions in arms, which 
contained his real intentions. We quote a specimen 
of it. 

" Soldiers! the entire world observes us, and will ex- 
pect our acts to be heroic as they are necessary. Pri- 
vations of all kinds surround us, in consequence of the 
neglect shown towards us for more than a month, by 
those who should provide your pay and provisions. 
But w^hen has misery debilitated your spirits, or weak- 
your enthusiasm ? The Mexican soldier is well known 
by his frugality and patience under suffering, never want- 
ing magazines in marches across deserts, and always 
counting upon the resources of the enemy to provide 
for his wants. To-day we shall undertake to march 
over a desert country, without succour or provisions. 
But be assured, that we shall be immediately provided 
from those of the enemy, and with them you will be 
sufficiently reimbursed. My friends, we go to open the 
campaign. What days of glory await us ! What a flat- 
tering future for our country ! How satisfactory, when 
w^e contemplate that we have saved its independence ! 
How the world will admire us ! How the nation will 
bless us ! And when in the bosoms of our families we 
shall relate the risks and fatigues which we have endured, 
the combats with and triumphs over a daring and pre- 
sumptuous enemy ; and hereafter, when telling our 
children that we have saved our country a second time, 
the jubilee will be complete, and the sacrifices will then 



104 THE WAR. 



Oi3icial report of General Taylor. 



appear to us as nothing. Soldiers ! Hurry forth in the 
defense of your country. The cause we sustain is a 
holy one ; never have we struggled with more justice, 
because we fight for the honour and religion of our 
wives and children ! What sacrifice, then, can be too 
great for objects so dear ? Let our motto be — ' Conquer 
OR die!' Let us swear before the great Eternal, that 
w^e will not w^ait an instant in purging our soil of the 
stranger, who has dared to profane it with his presence. 
No treaty, nothing which may not be heroic and proud." 
We give the distinct and explicit account of the op- 
perations which followed, from the .official report of 
General Taylor, reserving, as before, our notices of in- 
dividual gallantry for another portion of the work. 

^' The information which reached me of the advance 
and concentration of a heavy Mexican force in my front, 
had assumed such a probable form, as to induce a spe- 
cial examination far beyond the reach of our pickets, to 
ascertain its correctness. A small party of Texan spies, 
under Major McCulloch, despatched to the hacienda of 
Encarnacion, thirty miles from this, on the route to San 
Luis Potosi, had reported a cavalry force of unknown 
strength at that place. On the 20th of February, a 
strong reconnoissance under Lieutenant-Colonel May was 
despatched to the hacienda of Heclionda, while Major 
McCulloch made another examination of Encarnacion. 
The result of these expeditions left no doubt that the 
enemy was in large force at Encarnacion, under the 
orders of General Santa Anna, and that he meditated a 
forward movement and attack upon our position. 

As the camp of Agua Nueva could be turned on either 
flank, and as the enemy's force was greatly superior to 



THE WAR. 105 



OfScial report of General Taylor. 



our own, particularly in the arm of cavalry, I determined, 
after much consideration, to take up a position about 
eleven miles in rear, and there await the attack. The 
army broke up its camp and marched at noon on the 
21st, encamping at the new position a little in front of 
the hacienda of Buena Vista. With a small force I pro- 
ceeded to Saltillo, to make some necessary arrangements 
for the defense of the town, leaving Brigadier-General 
Wool in the immediate command of the troops. 

Before those arrangements were completed, on the 
morning of the 22d, I was advised that the enemy was 
in sight, advancing. Upon reaching the ground it was 
found that his cavalry advance was in our front, having 
marched from Encarnacion, as we have since learned, 
at eleven o'clock on the day previous, and driving in a 
mounted force left at Agua Nueva to cover the removal 
of public stores. Our troops were in position, occupy- 
ing a line of remarkable strength. The road at this 
point becomes a narrow defile, the valley on its right 
being rendered quite impracticable for artillery by a sys- 
tem of deep and impassable gullies, while on the left a 
succession of rugged ridges and precipitous ravines ex- 
tends far back toward the mountain which bounds the 
valley. The features of the ground were such as nearly 
to paralyze the artillery and cavalry of the enemy, while 
his infantry could not derive all the advantage of its 
numerical superiority. In this position we prepared to 
receive him. Captain Washington's battery (4th artil- 
lery) was posted to command the road, while the 1st 
and 2d Illinois regiments, under Colonels Hardin and 
Bissell, each eight companies, (to the latter of which was 
attached Captain Conner's company of Texas volun- 



106 THE W4R. 



Battle of Buena Vista.. 



teers,) and the 2d Kentucky, under Colonel McKee, 
occupied the crests of the ridges on the left and in rear. 
The Arkansas and Kentucky regiments of cavalry, com- 
manded by Colonels Yell and H. Marshall, occupied the 
extreme left near the base of the mountain, while the 
Indiana brigade, under Brigadier-General Lane, (com- 
posed of the 2d and 3d regiments, under Colonels Bowles 
and Lane,) the Mississippi riflemen, under Colonel Da- 
vis, the squadrons of the 1st and 2d dragoons, under 
Captain Steen and Lieutenant-Colonel May, and the 
light batteries of Captains Sherman and Bragg, 3d artil- 
lery, w^ere held in reserve. 

At eleven o'clock, a summons to surrender at dis- 
cretion was received from General Santa Anna, which 
was declined. The enemy still forebore his attack, evi- 
dently waiting for the arrival of his rear columns, which 
could be distinctly seen by our look-outs as they ap- 
proached the field. A demonstration made on his left 
caused me to detach the 2d Kentucky regiment and a 
section of our artillery to our right, in which position 
they bivouacked for the night. In the mean time the 
Mexican light troops had engaged ours on the extreme 
left, (composed of parts of the Kentucky and Arkansas 
cavalry dismounted, and a rifle battalion from the Indi- 
ana brigade, under Major Gorman, the whole commanded 
by Colonel Marshall,) and kept up a sharp fire, climbing 
the mountain side, and apparently endeavouring to gain 
our flank. Three pieces of Captain Washington's battery 
had been detached to the left, and were supported by the 
2d Indiana regiment. An occasional shell was thrown 
by the enemy into this part of our line, but without 
effect. The skirmishing of the light troops was kept up 



THE WAR. 109 



OfEcial report of General Taylor. 



with trifling loss on our part until dark, when I became 
convinced that no serious attack would be made before 
morning, and returned, with the Mississippi regiment 
and squadron of 2d dragoons, to Saltillo. The troops 
bivouacked without fires, and lay upon their arms. A 
body of cavalry, some fifteen hundred strong, had been 
visible all day in rear of the town, having entered the 
valley through a narrow pass east of the city. This 
cavalry, commanded by General Minon, had evidently 
been thrown in our rear to break up and harass our re- 
treat, and perhaps make some attempt against the town 
if practicable. The city was occupied by four excel- 
lent companies of Illinois volunteers, under Major War- 
ren, of the 1st regiment. A field-work, which com- 
manded most of the approaches, was garrisoned by 
Captain Webster's company, 1st artillery, and armed 
with two twenty-four-pound howitzers, while the train 
and head-quarter camp was guarded by two companies 
of Mississippi riflemen, under Captain Rogers, and a 
field-piece commanded by Captain Shover, 3d artillery. 
Having made these dispositions for the protection of 
the rear, I proceeded on the morning of the 23d to 
Buena Vista, ordering forward all the other available 
troops. The action had commenced before my arrival 
on the field. 

During the evening and night of the 22d, the enemy 
had thrown a body of light troops on the mountain side, 
with the purpose of outflanking our left ; and it was 
here that the action of the 23d commenced at an early 
hour. Our riflemen, under Colonel Marshall, who had 
been reinforced by three companies under Major Trail, 
2d Illinois volunteers, maintained their ground hand- 

10 



110 THE WAR. 



Battle of Buena Yista. 



somely against a greatly superior force, holding them- 
selves under cover, and using their weapons with deadly 
effect. About eight o'clock, a strong demonstration 
was made against the centre of our position, a heavy 
column moving along the road. This force was soon 
dispersed by a few rapid and w^ell- directed shots from 
Captain Washington's battery. In the mean time the 
enemy was concentrating a large force of infantry and 
cavalry under cover of the ridges, with the obvious inten- 
tion of forcing our left, which was posted on an exten- 
sive plateau. The 2d Indiana and 2d Illinois regiments 
formed this part of our line, the former covering three 
pieces of light artillery, under the orders of Captain 
O'Brien — Brigadier-General Lane being in the imme- 
diate command. In order to bring his men within 
effective range. General Lane ordered the artillery and 
2d Indiana regiment forward. The artillery advanced 
within musket range of a heavy body of Mexican infan- 
try, and was served against it with great effect, but 
without being able to check its advance. The infantry 
ordered to its support had fallen back in disorder, being 
exposed, as well as the battery, not only to a severe 
fire of small-arms from the front, but also to a murderous 
cross-fire of grape and canister from a Mexican battery 
on the left. Captain O'Brien found it impossible to 
retain his position without support, but was only able 
to withdraw two of his pieces, all the horses and can- 
noneers of the third piece being killed or disabled. 
,"^The 2d Indiana regiment, which had fallen back as 
'^ stated, could not be rallied, and took no farther part in 
the action, except a handful of men, who, under its 
gallant colonel, Bowles, joined the Mississippi regiment, 



THE WAR. Ill 



OfEcial report of General Taylor. 



and did good service, and those fugitives who, at a later 
period in the day, assisted in defending the train and 
depot at Buena Vista. This portion of our line having 
given way, and the enemy appearing in overwhelming 
force against our left flank, the light troops which had 
rendered such good service on the mountain were com- 
pelled to withdraw, which they did, for the most part, 
in good order. Many, however, were not rallied until 
they reached the depot at Buena Vista, to the defense 
of which they afterward contributed. 

Colonel Bissel's regiment, (2d Illinois,) which had 
been joined by a section of Captain Sherman's battery, 
had become completely outflanked, and was compelled 
to fall back, being entirely unsupported. The enemy 
was now pouring masses of infantry and cavalry along 
the base of the mountain on our left, and was gaining 
our rear in great force. At this moment I arrived upon 
the field. The Mississippi regiment had been directed 
to the left before reaching the position, and immediately 
came into action against the Mexican infantry which 
had turned our flank. The 2d Kentucky regiment and 
a section of artillery under Captain Bragg, had previ- 
ously been ordered from the right to reinforce our left, 
and arrived at a most opportune moment. That regi- 
ment, and a portion of the 1st Illinois, under Colonel 
Hardin, gallantly drove the enemy, and recovered a 
portion of the ground we had lost. The batteries of 
Captains Sherman and Bragg were in position on the 
plateau, and did much execution, not only in front, but 
particularly upon the masses which had gained our rear. 
Discovering that the enemy was heavily pressing upon 
the Mississippi regiment, the 3d Indiana regiment, under 



112 THE WAR. 



Battle of Euena Vista. 



Colonel Lane, was despatched to strengthen that part 
of our line, which formed a crotchet perpendicular to 
the first line of battle. At the same time Lieutenant 
Kilburn, with a piece of Captain Bragg's battery, was 
directed to support the infantry there engaged. The 
action was for a long time warmly sustained at that 
point — the enemy making several efforts both with in- 
fantry and cavalry against our line, and being always 
repulsed with heavy loss. I had placed all the regular 
cavalry and Captain Pike's squadron of Arkansas horse 
under the orders of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel May, 
with directions to hold in check the enemy's column, 
still advancing to the rear along the base of the moun- 
tain, which was done in conjunction with the Kentucky 
and Arkansas cavalry under Colonels Marshall and Yell. 
In the mean time our left, which was still strongly 
threatened by a superior force, was farther strengthened 
by the detachment of Captain Bragg's and a portion of 
Captain Sherman's batteries to that quarter. The con- 
centration of artillery fire upon the masses of the enemy 
along the base of the mountain, and the determined 
resistance offered by the two regiments opposed to them, 
had created confusion in their ranks, and some of the 
corps attempted to effect a retreat upon their main line 
of battle. The squadron of the 1st dragoons, under 
Lieutenant Rucker, was now ordered up the deep ravine 
which these retreating corps were endeavouring to cross, 
in order to charge and disperse them. The squadron 
proceeded to the point indicated, but could not accom- 
plish the object, being exposed to a heavy fire from a 
battery established to cover the retreat of those corps. 
While the squadron was detached on this service, a 



THE WAR. 113 



Official report of General Taylor. 



large body of the enemy was observed to concentrate 
on our extreme left, apparently with the view of making 
a descent upon the hacienda of Buena Vista, where our 
train and baggage w^ere deposited. Lieutenant-Colonel 
May was ordered to the support of that point, with two 
pieces of Captain Sherman's battery under Lieutenant 
Reynolds. In the mean time, the scattered forces near 
the hacienda, composed in part of Majors Trail and 
Gorman's commands, had been to some extent organ- 
ized under the advice of Major Munroe, chief of artil- 
lery, with the assistance of Major Morrison, volunteer 
staff, and were posted to defend the position. Before 
our cavalry had reached the hacienda, that of the enemy 
had made its attack ; having been handsomely met by 
the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry under Colonels 
Marshall and Yell. The Mexican column immediately 
divided, one portion sweeping by the depot, w^here it 
received a destructive fire from the force which had 
collected there, and then gaining the mountain opposite, 
under a fire from Lieutenant Reynolds' section, the 
remaining portion regaining the base of the mountain 
on our lefl. In the charge at Buena Vista, Colonel Yell 
fell gallantly at the head of his regiment ; we also lost 
Adjutant Vaughan, of the Kentucky cavalry — a young- 
officer of much promise. Lieutenant-Colonel May, who 
had been rejoined by the squadron of the 1st dragoons 
and by portions of the Arkansas and Indiana troops, 
under Lieutenant-Colonel Roane and Major Gorman, 
now approached the base of the mountain, holding in 
check the right flank of the enemy, upon whose masses, 
crowded in the narrow gorges and ravines, our artillery 
was doing fearful execution. 

H 10* 



114 THE WAR. 



Battle of Buena Vista. 



The position of that portion of the Mexican army 
which had gained our rear was now very critical, and it 
seemed doubtful whether it could regain the main body. 
At this moment I received from General Santa Anna a 
message by a staff officer, desiring to know what I 
wanted. I immediately despatched Brigadier-General 
Wool to the Mexican general-in-chief, and sent orders 
to cease firing. Upon reaching the Mexican lines, 
General Wool could not cause the enemy to cease their 
fire, and accordingly returned without having an inter- 
view. The extreme right of the enemy continued its 
retreat along the base of the mountain, and finally, in 
spite of all our efforts, effected a junction with the 
remainder of the army. 

During the day, the cavalry of General Minon had 
ascended the elevated plain above Saltillo, and occupied 
the road from the city to the field of battle, where they 
intercepted several of our men. Approaching the town, 
they were fired upon by Captain Webster from the 
redoubt occupied by his company, and then moved off 
towards the eastern side of the valley, and obliquely 
towards Buena Vista. At this time. Captain Shover 
moved rapidly forward with his piece, supported by a 
miscellaneous command of mounted volunteers, and 
fired several shots at the cavalry with great effect. They 
were driven into the ravines which lead to the lower 
valley, closely pursued by Captain Shover, who was 
farther supported by a piece of Captain Webster's bat- 
tery, under Lieutenant Donaldson, which had advanced 
from the redoubt, supported by Captain Wheeler's com- 
pany of Illinois volunteers. The enemy made one or 
two efforts to charge the artillery, but was finally driven 



THE WAR. 115 



Official report of General Taylor. 



back in a confused mass, and did not again appear upon 
the plain. 

In the mean time, the firing had partially ceased upon 
the principal field. The enemy seemed to confine his 
efforts to the protection of his artillery, and I had left 
the plateau for a moment, when I was recalled thither 
by a very heavy musketry fire. On regaining that posi- 
tion, I discovered that our infantry (Illinois and 2d 
Kentucky) had engaged a greatly superior force of the 
enemy — evidently his reserve — and that they had been 
overwhelmed by numbers. The moment was most 
critical. Captain O'Brien, with two pieces, had sus- 
tained this heavy charge to the last, and was finally 
obliged to leave his guns on the field — his infantry sup- 
port being entirely routed. Captain Bragg, who had 
just arrived from the left, was ordered at once into bat- 
tery. Without any infantry to support him, and at the 
imminent risk of losing his guns, this officer came rapidly 
into action, the Mexican line being but a few yards 
from the muzzle of his pieces. The first discharge of 
canister caused the enemy to hesitate, and the second 
and third drove him back in disorder, and saved the 
day. The 2d Kentucky regiment, which had advanced 
beyond supporting distance in this affair, was driven 
back and closely pressed by the enemy's cavalry. 
Taking a ravine which led in the direction of Captain 
Washington's battery, their pursuers became exposed to 
his fire, which soon checked and drove them back with 
loss. In the mean time the rest of our artillery had 
taken position on the plateau, covered by the Missis- 
sippi and 3d Indiana regiments, the former of which 
had reached the ground in time to pour a fire into the 



116 



THE WAR. 



Battle of Buena Vista. 



right flank of the enemy, and thus contribute to his 
repulse. In this last conflict we had the misfortune to 
sustain a very heavy loss. Colonel Hardin, 1st Illinois, 
and Colonel McKee and Lieutenant-Colonel Clay, 2d 
Kentucky regiment, fell at this time while gallantly 
leading their commands. 

No farther attempt was made by the enemy to force 
our position, and the approach of night gave an oppor- 
tunity to pay proper attention to the wounded, and also 
to refresh the soldiers, who had been exhausted by in- 
cessant watchfulness and combat. Though the night 
was severely cold, the troops were compelled for the 
most to bivouac without fires, expecting that morning 
would renew the conflict. During the night the wounded 
were removed to Saltillo, and every preparation made 
to receive the enemy, should he again attack our posi- 
tion. Seven fresh companies were drawn from the 
town, and Brigadier-General Marshall, with a reinforce- 
ment of Kentucky cavalry and four heavy guns, under 
Captain Prentiss, 1st artillery, was near at hand, when 
it was discovered that the enemy had abandoned his 
position during the night. Our scouts soon ascertained 
that he had fallen back upon Agua Nueva. The great 
disparity of numbers, and the exhaustion of our troops, 
rendered it inexpedient and hazardous to attempt pur- 
suit. A staff officer was despatched to General Santa 
Anna to negotiate an exchange of prisoners, which was 
satisfactorily completed on the following day. Our own 
dead were collected and buried, and the Mexican 
w^ounded, of which a large number had been left upon 
the field, were removed to Saltillo, and rendered as 
comfortable as circumstances would permit. 



THE WAR. 119 



Official report of General Taylor. 



On the evening of the 26th, a close reconnoissance 
was made of the enemy's position, which was found to 
be occupied only by a small body of cavalry, the infan- 
try and artillery having retreated in the direction of San 
Luis Potosi. On the 27th, our troops resumed their 
former camp at Agua Nueva, the enemy's rear-guard 
evacuating the place as we approached, leaving a 
considerable number of wounded. It w^as my pur- 
pose to beat up his quarters at Encarnacion early the 
next morning, but upon examination, the weak con- 
dition of the cavalry horses rendered it unadvisable to 
attempt so long a march without water. A command was 
finally despatched to Encarnacion, on the 1st of March, 
under Colonel Belknap. Some two hundred wounded, 
and about sixty Mexican soldiers were found there, the 
army having passed on in the direction of Matehuala, 
with greatly reduced numbers, and suffering much from 
hunger. The dead and dying were strewed upon the 
road and crowded the buildings of the hacienda. 

The American force engaged in the action of Buena 
Vista is shown, by the field report, to have been three 
hundred and thirty-four officers, and four thousand four 
hundred and twenty-five men, exclusive of the small 
command left in and near Saltillo. Of this number, two 
squadrons of cavalry and three batteries of light artillery, 
making not more than four hundred and fifty-three men, 
composed the only force of regular troops. The strength 
of the Mexican army is stated by General Santa Anna, 
in his summons, to be twenty thousand ; and that estimate 
is confirmed by all the information since obtained. Our 
loss is two hundred and sixty-seven killed, four hundred 
and fifty-six wounded, and twenty-three missing. Of the 



120 THE War. 



Battle of Buena Vista. 



numerous wounded, many did not require removal to the 
hospital, and it is hoped that a comparatively small num- 
ber will be permanently disabled. The Mexican loss in 
killed and wounded may be fairly estimated at one thou- 
sand five hundred, and will probably reach two thousand. 
At least five hundred of their killed were left upon the 
field of battle. We have no means of ascertaining the 
number of deserters and dispersed men from their ranks, 
but it is known to be very great." 

The nature of the ground at Buena Vista, made the 
battle a series of detached encounters, in which each 
side had at times the superiority of force. It was the 
work of the able commander to give unity to the whole 
by the proper direction of the several partial efforts. 
These divided operations gave splendid opportunities 
for the display of individual gallantry and state pride, 
which were cheerfully improved, especially by the volun- 
teers, many of whom had never faced an enemy before, 
and were determined to reap laurels on the first field. 
It is a fact never before known in the annals of war, 
that almost every American soldier in the present war, 
considers himself in some degree its historian. Nearly 
every one is able to write, many have made engage- 
ments with editors at home to furnish accounts of their 
engagements, and each one is interested in the success 
of his own company that the account he must give may 
not be disgraceful. Thus a direct personal pride is 
brought to aid the military pride necessary to the forma- 
tion of a good soldier, an element which must be of 
great account in explaining the success of our arms. 
The future historian of the war, possessed of the im- 
mense mass of materials thus furnished, will catch the 



THE WAR. 



121 



Kentucky- regiment. 



enthusiasm with which the brave soldiers write m the 
moment of victory, and build up for himself a reputation 
unsurpassed by that of any of the warrior historians, 
Xenophon, Csesar, or Napier. 

We give an extract from one of these letters, whicli 
illustrates at once the force of the above remark, and 
the bravery of a particular regiment. 

"At a very critical point of the battle when it became 
necessary to sustain one of our columns, which was 
staggering under a charge made by the Mexicans, in 
overwhelming numbers, General Taylor despatched Mr. 
Crittenden to order Colonel McKee, of the 2d Kentucky 
regiment, to bring his men into immediate action. Mr. 
Crittenden found the regiment, men and officers, eager 
for the fray, delivered the order and rode back to the 
general, by whose side it was his duty to keep. The 
Kentuckians moved forward in gallant style, led by 
McKee and Clay, both of whom, alas! fell in a subse- 
quent part of the day. It so happened that before 
reaching a position from which they could deliver an 
effective fire, the regiment had to cross a valley which 
w^as broken up by ravines and masses of stone. Whilst 
crossing this valley the heads only of the men could be 
seen from the point which General Taylor and Mr. 
Crittenden occupied — and these were bobbing up and 
down and crosswise in such confusion as to impress both 
with the idea that the regiment had fallen into disorder. 
The Mexicans were annoying them at the same moment 
by a fire, which helped to confirm the opinion of the 
general that the Kentuckians were thrown into dismay. 

It was one of these decisive crises, which occur in 
every contested field, when the issue of the day de- 
ll 



122 THE WAR. 



K^eutucky regiinent. 



pended, for the time being, upon the gallantry of a par- 
ticular corps. 

General Taylor, who, as before said, could only see 
the heads of the troops, and misled by their motions in 
getting across gullies and going around rocks and other 
obstructions, into the belief that they were about to falter, 
turned to Mr. Crittenden, who is a Kentuckian, and with 
a countenance, indicating deep mortification — for the ge- 
neral is a resident in Kentucky too — and an eye fierce with 
emotion, exclaimed, ' Mr. Crittenden, this will not do 
— this is not the way for Kentuckians to behave them- 
selves when called upon to make a good battle — it will 
not answer, sir:' and with this he clenched his hands, 
and knit his brow, and set his teeth hard together. Mr. 
Crittenden, who was mistaken by the same indications 
that deceived the general, could scarcely make a reply 
from very chagrin and shame. In a few moments, 
however, the Kentuckians had crossed the uneven places, 
and were seen ascending the slope of the valley, shoulder 
to shoulder, and with the firm and regular step of vete- 
rans of a hundred fields. On they moved until they 
reached the crest of the hill, where they met the enemy 
before the flush of a temporary advantage had subsided. 
Plere they delivered their fires with such regularity and 
deadly aim that the decimated phalanx of Mexico gave 
way and retreated precipitately. As the Kentuckians 
emerged from the valley the countenance of the old 
general, who was regarding them with the intensest 
interest, gradually relaxed the bitterness of its expres- 
sion. A glow of pride supplanted the deep mortification 
which fixed its muscles, and enthusiasm qualified the 
fierce glance of his eye. Forward they moved under his 



THE WAR. 123 



Taylor pursues Urrea. 



riveted gaze, whose feelings became more and more 
wrought up as they approached the scene of carnage. 
When they opened their fire the old general could no 
longer restrain his admiration, but broke forth with a 
loud huzza, — 'Hurrah for old Kentucky!' he exclaimed, 
talking to himself, and rising in his saddle ; ' that's the 
way to do it ; give it to them,' and the tears of exulta- 
tion rolled down his cheeks as he said it. 

Having got rid of this ebullition of state pride, he went 
about looking after other parts of the field. 

The Kentuckians did their duty that day as others did. 
They paid toll in travelling the high road to glory as the 
list of killed and wounded shows." 

On the 2d of March Mr. Crittenden set out for Wash- 
ington with the official documents of the battle, escorted 
by Major Giddings, with two hundred and sixty infantry 
and two pieces of artillery, and having in charge one 
hundred and fifty wagons. At a mile distant from 
Seralvo the escort was attacked by General Urrea with 
a force of sixteen hundred Mexican cavalry and infantry. 
The enemy was repulsed with a loss of forty-five killed 
and wounded. Major Giddings lost seventeen men, 
fifteen of whom were teamsters. Subsequently General 
Taylor marched in pursuit of Urrea, who fled over the 
mountains. General Taylor then returned and fixed his 
camp at the Walnut. Springs, three miles from Monterey, 
where it still is, under the charge of General Wool, to 
whose care General Taylor has committed the army 
while he himself returns for a little while to visit his 
family in the United States. 

Along the Rio Grande the only warfare that has been 
waged since the capture of Matamoras is that of the 



124 THE WAR. 



Order of Canales. 



guerillas. The butcheries perpetrated by these bands are 
appalling, war without pity being their cardinal princi- 
ple. The following manifesto taken from a captive of 
the band of Canales, by Lieutenant Bee of Captain 
Lamar's Rangers. Canales is a graduate of a sanguinary 
school, a robber chief by profession, and a cut-throat by 
nature ; he is just the man to gloat over the barbarities 
of such a war. The pretended necessity for retaliation 
with which his proclamation commences refers to an 
excess of vengeance perpetrated by a few disorderly 
soldiers in a moment of excitement, occasioned by the 
most dastardly murder of one of their comrades by two 
of the band of Canales, who were found among the party 
of Mexicans that were slain. Without this outrage, 
however, the guerilla system would have been^ adopted, 
as it has been in the Central States. The Mexicans 
themselves are not more free from outrage and plunder 
at the hands of these bands than the Americans; and 
many instances can be cited where the unfortunate in- 
habitants welcome the approach of their foes that they 
may have protection from these their pretended friends. 

"I this day send to the adjutant inspector of the 
National Guards the following instructions : 

I learn, with the greatest indignation, that the Ameri- 
cans have committed a most horrible massacre at the 
rancho of the Guadalupe. They made prisoners, in their 
own houses and by the side of their families, twenty-five 
peaceable men, and immediately shot them. To repel 
this class of warfare, which is not war but atrocity in all 
its fury, there is no other course left us than retaliation ; 
and in order to pursue this method, rendered imperative 
by the fatal circumstances above mentioned, you will 




Commencement of the Guerilla Warfare. 



11' 



THE WAR. 127 



Order of Canales. 



immediately declare martial law, with the understanding 
that eight days after the publication of the same every 
individual who has not taken up arms (being capable of 
so doing) shall be considered a traitor and instantly shot. 

Martial law being in force, you are bound to give no 
quarters to any American whom you may meet, or who 
may present himself to you, even though he be without 
arms. You are also directed to publish this to all the 
towns in this state, forcibly impressing them with the 
severe punishment that shall be inflicted for the least 
omission of this order. 

We have arrived at that state in which our country 
requires the greatest sacrifices; her sons should glory in 
nothing but to become soldiers, and as brave Mexicans 
to meet the crisis. Therefore, if the army of invasion 
continues, and our people remain in the towns which 
they have molested, they deserve not one ray of sympa- 
thy; nor should any one ever cease to make war upon 
them. You will send a copy of this to each of your 
subordinates, and they are authorized to proceed against 
the chiefs of their squadrons, or against their colonels or 
any other, even against me, for any infraction of this 
order — the only mode of salvation left. The enemy 
wages war against us, and even against those peaceable 
citizens who, actuated by improper impulses, desire to 
remain quiet in their houses. Even these they kill, 
without quarter; and this is the greatest favour they 
may expect from them. The only alternative left us, 
under these circumstances, is retaliation, which is the 
strong right of the offended against the offending. To 
carry this into effect, attach yourself to the authorities. 
Your failing to do this will be considered a crime of the 



128 THE WAR. 



Operations of General Scott. 



greatest magnitude. All the officers of the troops are 
directed to assist you in carrying out this order, and it 
is distinctly understood there shall be no exceptions. 
Neither the clergy, military, citizens, nor other persons, 
shall enjoy the privilege of remaining peaceably at their 
homes. The whole of the corporation shall turn out 
wdth the citizens, leaving solely as authority of the town 
one of the members who is over the age of sixty years ; 
at the same time, if all of the members are capable of 
bearing arms, then none shall be excepted ; leaving to 
act some one who is incapable of military service. You 
yourself must be an example to others, by conforming 
to this requisition. And I send this to yoi*for publica- 
tion, and charge you to see it executed in every par- 
ticular, and communicate it also to the commanders of 
the squadrons in your city, who will aid you in carrying 
into effect these instructions ; and in fact you are directed 
to do all and every thing which your patriotism may 
prompt. God and liberty!" 

We turn next to the sphere of operations of General 
Winfield Scott, the commander-in-chief of the armies 
of the United States. That officer sailed from New 
York on the 30th of November, and reached the Rio 
Grande on the 1st of January. His object was to cap- 
ture the city of Vera Cruz and the castle of San Juan 
d'Ulloa, the naval forces under Commodore Conner 
being intended to co-operate in the attack. As we have 
seen, all the regular force was detached from General 
Taylor's command, and ordered to the general rendez- 
vous at the island of Lobos, not very distant from Vera 
Cruz, and the anchorage of the Gulf Squadron at Anton 
Lizardo. The transports slowly gathered together at 



THE WAR. 129 



Landing at "Vera Cruz. 



that place the troops from the Brazos, from New Orleans, 
and the north, cavalry, infantry, artillery, mortars, bomb- 
ketches, shells and shot — in short, all the materiel ne- 
cessary for the successful execution of the brilliant de- 
signs of General Scott. At length the army, amounting 
to about twelve thousand men, thoroughly equipped, re- 
embarked on board of the transports numbering nearly 
a hundred sail, and proceeded to effect a landing at 
Vera Cruz. It became the duty of the navy to co-ope- 
rate in the landing, and the particulars of the disem- 
barkation are given in the despatch of Commodore 
Conner, which we subjoin. 

" After a joint reconnoissance, made by the general 
and myself in the steamer Petrita, the beach due west 
from Sacrificios, one of the points spoken of in my pre- 
vious letters, was selected as the most suitable for the 
purpose. The anchorage near this place being ex- 
tremely contracted, it became necessary, in order to 
avoid crowding it with an undue number of vessels, to 
transfer most of the troops to the vessels of war for traUvS- 
portation to Sacrificios. Accordingly, on the morning of 
the 9th, at daylight, all necessary preparations — such as 
launching and numbering the boats, detailing officers, 
&c. — having been previously made, this transfer was 
commenced. The frigates received on board between 
twenty-five and twenty-eight hundred men each, w^ith 
their arms and accoutrements, and the sloops and smaller 
vessels number in proportion. 

This part of the movement was completed very suc- 
cessfully about eleven o'clock, a. m., and a few minutes 
thereafter the squadron under my command, accom- 
panied by the commanding general, in the steamship 
I 



130 THE WAR. 



Landing at Vera Cruz. 



Massachusetts, and such of the transports as had been 
selected for the purpose, got under way. The weather 
was very fine — indeed we could not have been more 
favoured in this particular than we w^ere. We had a 
fresh, and yet gentle breeze from the south-east, and a 
perfectly smooth sea. The passage to Sacrificios occu- 
pied us between two and three hours. Each ship came 
in and anchored without the slightest disorder or con- 
fusion, in the small space allotted to her — the harbour 
being still very much crowded, notwithstanding the 
number of transports we had left behind. The disem- 
barkation commenced on the instant. Whilst we were 
transferring the troops from the ships to the serf-boats, 
(sixty-five in number,) I directed the steamers Spitfire 
and Vixen, and the five gun-boats, to form in a line 
parallel with and close in to the beach, to cover the 
landing. This order w^as promptly executed, and these 
small vessels, from the lightness of their draught, were 
enabled to take positions within good grape-range of the 
shore. As the boats severally received their comple- 
ments of troops, they assembled, in a line abreast, be- 
tween the fleet and the gun-boats ; and when all were 
ready, they pulled in, together, under the guidance of a 
number of the officers of the squadron, who had been 
detailed for this purpose. General Worth commanded 
this, the first line of the army, and had the satisfaction 
of forming his command on the beach and neighbouring 
heights just before sunset. Four thousand five hundred 
men were thus thrown on shore, almost simultaneously. 
No enemy appeared to offer us the slightest opposi- 
tion. The first line being landed, the boats, in succes- 
sive trips, relieved the men of war and transports of 



THE WAR. 131 



Landing at Vera Cruz 



their remaining troops, by ten o'clock, p. m. The whole 
army, (save a few straggling companies,) consisting of 
upwards of ten thousand men, were thus safely deposited 
on shore, without the slightest accident of any kind. The 
officers and seamen under my command, vied with each 
other on this occasion, in a zealous and energetic per- 
formance of their duty. I cannot but express to the 
department the great satisfaction I have derived from 
witnessing their efforts to contribute all in their power to 
the success of their more fortunate brethren of the army. 
The weather still continuing fine, to-day we were en- 
gaged in landing the artillery, horses, provisions, and 
other materiel. The steamer New Orleans, with the 
Louisiana regiment of volunteers, eight hundred strong, 
arrived most opportunely at Anton Lizardo, just as we 
had put ourselves in motion. She joined us, and her 
troops were landed with the rest." 

" The brilliant scene," says the Rev. F. M. Taylor, 
in his new work, "The Broad Pennant," " the brilliant 
scene presented by the disembarkation of our army of 
twelve thousand men from the ships, so successfully and 
beautifully conducted, might well excite the admiration 
and claim the interested gaze of the beholders. The scene 
has never been equalled on the continent of America, 
and no disembarkation on record can have surpassed it 
for its successful accomplishment. It has been com- 
pared with the landing of the French expedition against 
Algiers, in 1830, which is said to have been one of the 
most complete armaments, in every respect, that ever 
left Europe. That expedition had been prepared with 
labour, attention, and experience ; and nothing had been 
omitted to insure success, particularly in the means and 



132 THE WAR. 



Description of Vei^ Cruz. 



facilities for landing the troops. Its disembarkation 
took place in a wide bay, which was more favourable 
than an open beach directly on the ocean ; and, as in 
the present instance, it was made without any resistance 
on the part of the enemy. Yet only nine thousand men 
were landed the first day, and thirty to forty lives were 
lost by accidents or upsetting of boats; w^hereas on 
the present occasion, twelve thousand were landed in 
one day without the slightest accident or loss of a single 
life. The great credit of this, of course belongs to the 
navy, under whose orders and arrangements, and by 
whose exertions it was effected, and reflects the highest 
credit on Commodore Conner, and the gallant officers 
and seamen belonging to the squadron." 

It may not be amiss, before proceeding to give an 
account of the siege, to subjoin a short extract from an 
article descriptive of Vera Cruz, from the New York 
Herald, the more especially as they serve to justify in 
some degree the opinion entertained by the Mexicans 
that it was impregnable. 

^' The fortifications consist of nine towers connected 
together by means of a stone and mortar wall, which, 
however, is not very thick. The two towers named 
Santiago and Conception are the most important, as well 
from their size and strength, as from the fact that by 
their position they contribute much to the defense of the 
port. They are situated at that portion of the walls 
looking toward the castle of San Juan, and are distant 
from each other one thousand two hundred and seventy 
varas. The other towers, including the one called San 
Fernando, are almost equal in shape, size, and strength. 
All of them can mount one hundred pieces of artillery 



THE WAR. 133 



Siege of Vera Cruz. 



of various sizes; and save those of the middle ones, 
their fires all cross in front of the guard-houses, the ex- 
ternal walls of which form part of the walls which sur- 
round the city. 

Having completed the investment of the city, General 
Scott sent a summons to the commander to surrender, 
that Vera Cruz might be saved " from the imminent 
hazard of demolition — its gallant defenders from a use- 
less effusion of blood, and its peaceful inhabitants — 
women and children, inclusive — from the inevitable 
horrors of a triumphant assault." He offered in case 
the city and castle had separate commanders, and 
the former were surrendered, to agree not to fire a 
shot from the city upon the castle, unless the castle 
should previously fire upon the city. The answer to 
this summons was the announcement of the determina- 
tion of Don Juan Morales to defend both the city and 
the castle to the last. 

Seven ten-inch mortars being in battery, opened upon 
the city on the receipt of this reply, and the small ves- 
sels of the squadron approached to within a mile and an 
eighth of the city, and opened a fire upon it, which they 
continued until called off by the commodore on the suc- 
ceeding day. On the 23d, three other mortars were 
added to the seven already at work ; on the 24th an- 
other battery, commanded by officers of the navy, con- 
sisting of three thirty-two-pounders and three eight-inch 
Paixhan guns, all landed from the squadron, was opened 
with great activity. On the 25th, a new battery, mount- 
ing four twenty-four-pounders and two eight-inch Paix- 
han guns, was opened with great effect, making five 
batteries in awful activity. Such a terrible effect had 

12 



134 THE WAR. 



Surrender of Vera Cruz. 



now been produced upon the city as to make its early- 
fall inevitable. On the 24th, the consuls of the European 
powers sent a memorial to General Scott, asking for a 
truce, in order that neutrals and women and children 
might withdraw from the city. This request, preferred 
after they had despised the early warning of General 
Scott to retire, was of course refused. 

On the morning of the 26th, General Landero, on 
whom General Morales had devolved the command, 
made overtures which resulted in a capitulation signed 
on the evening of that day. On the 29th of March, the 
flag of the United States was raised in triumph over the 
city and castle of Vera Cruz. There was one drawback 
to the joy felt on this occasion, regret for the loss of 
the brave and pious Captain John R. Vinton of the 3d 
artillery.* General Scott writes on the 23d as follows: 
"Including the preparation and defense of the bat- 
teries, from the beginning — now many days — and 

* John R. Vinton, who had been brevetted a major at the time he 
fell, although without his knowledge of the promotion, was one of the 
most valuable officers in the army. He was educated at West Point, 
commissioned at seventeen, employed for several years on topographical 
duty on the Atlantic coast, and in Canada, adjutant under General 
Eustis, aid to General Brown, and having served with distinction in the 
Seminole war, and particularly at the battle near Lake Monroe, he finally 
raised his military reputation to the highest point at the siege of Mon- 
terey. Here he was with General Worth's division, and accompanied 
the troops as they passed so long under fire from the two heights, in the 
storming of those heights, the capture of the palace, and the subsequent 
street assault, where the soldiers dug through the walls of houses amid 
a continual fire of musketry firom the house tops. 

Vinton was not only highly distinguished as an officer, but he w'as 
profoundly learned, skilled in the fine arts, and a man of unquestionable 
piety. 



THE WAR. 135 



Siege of Vera Cruz. 



notwithstanding the heavy fire of the enemy, from city 
and castle — we have only had four or five men wounded, 
and one officer and one man killed, in or near the 
trenches. That officer was Captain John R. Vinton, of 
the United States 3d artillery, one of the most talented, 
accomplished, and effective members of the army, and 
who was highly distinguished in the brilliant operations 
at Monterey. He fell, last evening, in the trenches, where 
he was on duty as field and commanding officer, uni- 
versally regretted. I have just attended his honoured 
remains to a soldier's grave — in full view of the enemy 
and within reach of his guns. 

As soon as Commodore Perry perceived the land 
forces engaged, he ordered Captain Tatnall, with what 
is called the " Mosquito Fleet," consisting of the steam- 
ers Spitfire and Vixen, and five gun-boats, viz : Reefer, 
Bonita, Tampico, Falconer, and Petrel, to attack. Cap- 
tain Tatnall inquired at what point he should engage ? 
Commmodore Perry very emphatically replied, " Where- 
ever you can do the most execution, sir." Accordingly 
the little fleet took position under a point of land known 
as the '^Lime Kiln," about a mile from the city, where 
they were protected from a point blank shot of the 
castle. As soon as they got their position in line they 
opened a fire of round shot and shell at a rapid rate, 
and threw them " handsomely" into the town and Fort 
Santiago. 

The castle soon paid its respects to Captain Tatnall, 
and the powerful engines of havoc and destruction were 
now in full blast from every quarter, hurling their dread- 



136 THE WAR. 



Coolness of the American soldiers. 



ful and deadly missiles into each other's ranks in rapid 
succession, which they kept up till about dark, when 
the Mexican batteries comparatively ceased, and the 
*' Mosquito Fleet" also held off for the night. 

At eight o'clock the party that were in the trenches 
were relieved by another detail. The troops who re- 
turned from the intrenchments were literally covered 
with smoke and dust, and so much disfigured that they 
could not be recognized except by their voices. Shell 
after shell exploded in their midst, and shot after shot 
threw barrels of earth from the embankments over their 
heads as they lay in the trenches. 

An incident occurred during the heaviest of the fire, 
evincing the coolness of the American soldiers in time 
of the greatest danger. A small party who had been 
lying in the trenches all day, becoming tired of doing 
nothing, as they said, were devising some means of pass- 
ing away the time. At length one of them proposed a 
game at cards, and hauled out an old greasy pack, and 
some half dozen of them sat down in the ditch to play, 
with nothing but tobacco for stakes. They became 
much interested, and it was not long before they forgot 
all about cannon, bomb-shells, Mexican batteries, or 
any thing else but their tobacco and cards. It was not 
long, however, before a thirteen inch shell fell on the 
top of the embankment ; the explosion completely 
covered them with the earth ; they all scrambled out as 
quick as they could, and shaking the sand from their cloth- 
ing, and cleaning it out from their eyes, one of them very 
coolly remarked, " Well, boys,. I'll be darned if that 
didn't come mighty near being a ten strike !" 

At daylight on the 23d, Captain Tatnall's Mosquito 



THE WAR. 137 



Colonel Harney's dragoon fight. 



Fleet weighed anchor, and under cover of a moon some- 
what clouded, approached within six hundred yards of 
the castle. As soon as they had got their respective 
positions, they opened a broadside from the fleet, which 
was answered by the castle with great spirit, both by 
round shot and shell. Captain Tatnall continued the 
engagement for about half an hour, although the signal 
from the commodore's ship, calling him off, had been 
hoisted for some time ; but was not seen on account of 
a cloud of smoke which hung around the shipping." 

On the 25th, information was received in camp that a 
body of Mexicans were hanging in our rear, intending 
to force the lines if possible and make their way into the 
city with a number of cattle. Colonel Harney, with one 
hundred and twenty dragoons, was ordered out in search 
of them, and report his observations. He discovered 
them, about two thousand in number, intrenched at a 
bridge, and supported by two pieces of artillery, three 
miles from General Patterson's head-quarters. Colonel 
Harney started on his return, intending to prepare pro- 
perly and attack them the next morning. But the gallant 
soldier knowing that delays are dangerous, could not 
bear the idea of leaving the enemy after having come 
in sight of them without having a brush. Accordingly 
he returned to the place, took a position where he could 
w^atch their movements, and keep his men secure from 
the enemy's fire. The Mexicans commenced firing at 
him, and threw a perfect shower of balls all around him, 
but without injury. 

Colonel Harney then despatched a messenger to camp 
for a small reinforcement, and some artillery to break 
the breastworks. He was reinforced from General Pat^ 
12* 



138 THE WAR. 



Colonel Harney'* dragoon fight. 



terson's division by Lieutenant Judd, with two pieces 
of artillery, about sixty dragoons, dismounted, and six 
companies of the 1st and 2d Tennessee volunteers, 
under the command of Colonel Haskell, accompanied 
by General Patterson in person, although he did not 
take the command from Colonel Harney, but merely 
participated as any other individual who was engaged. 
Colonel Harney then formed the Tenn-dtseeans on the 
right, his dragoons on the left, and advanced slowly to 
draw the fire of the Mexicans, until Lieutenant Judd got 
his artillery in such a position as he desired. 

The movement succeeded admirably : Lieutenant 
Judd got his ground within one hundred and fifty yards 
of the Mexicans, and commenced firing — they attempted 
to return it, but as soon as a slight breach was made in 
the parapet. Colonel Harney ordered a charge, which 
was answered by a yell from the dragoons and Tennes- 
seeans. Colonel Haskell, Captain Cheatham, and Cap- 
tain Foster, were the first men to leap over the breast- 
work, and as a naval officer remarked, who witnessed 
the whole affair, the balance went over so much like a 
*' thousand of brick," that there was no telling who was 
first or last. As might have been expected, the Mexi- 
cans were unable to stand a charge from "the boys who 
stood the fire of the Black Fort at Monterey." 

A few of the encumbrances were soon thrown out of 
the way, and Colonel Harney, with his dragoons, leaped 
the breastwork and gave chase. He had not proceeded 
more than a mile before he found the enemy formed in 
line to receive him. He immediately deployed, and 
from the head of the line ordered a charge. When he 
approached within about twenty yards of the enemy's 



THE WAR. 139 



Colonel Harney's dragoon fight. 



line they gave him a fire from their side-arms, but over- 
shot. Then came the test of strength and skill — the 
dragoon, with sword in hand, met the confiding lancer, 
with pointed lance, ready to receive him. The contest 
was but for a short time. 

In many instances lances were twisted from their 
clenched hands; the Mexicans were unsaddled and 
driven, helter-skelter, in every direction, and pursued 
by the dragoons in detachments. Colonel Harney and 
several of his officers met their men in single combat, 
but none of them received any injury except Lieutenant 
Neill, adjutant of the regiment, who was wounded 
severely in two places from his magnanimity in attempt- 
ing to capture a Mexican instead of killing him. In 
full run he overtook the retreating Mexican, and placing 
his sword in front of him commanded him to surrender, 
whereupon the Mexican drove his lance into his magnani- 
mous adversary. As the lieutenant wheeled his horse 
to despatch him, another Mexican charged up and struck 
him with a lance. However, severely wounded as he was 
in two places, he conquered one of his foes, and a cor- 
poral came up in time to ^ settle accounts' with the other. ' 

In this affair Colonel Harney had four wounded and 
one killed ; Lieutenant Judd had one killed ; and the 
Tennesseeans had Messrs. Fox, Long, Woodly, and one 
other of Captain McCown's company, whose name I could 
not ascertain, wounded. Mr. Young, a Texan ranger, 
who was acting as guide, was also wounded slightly. 
Nineteen Mexicans were found dead at the bridge be- 
hind the breastwork. Colonel Harney killed fifty and 
wounded about thf^ same number. The Mexican force 
near two thousand ; Colonel Harney's about five hundred. 



140 THE WAR. 



American flte,g saluted. 



Colonel Haskell, Captains Cheatham, Foster, Snead, 
Lieutenant Judd, and all the officers and men in the 
command, are spoken of in the very highest terms by- 
Colonel Harney for their gallant conduct throughout the 
whole affair. 

On the 27th, Commodore Perry was preparing to land 
another battery of ten guns from the Ohio, but the 
necessity was obviated by the ratification by both parties 
of the stipulations agreed upon by the commissioners. 

The Mexicans surrendered the city of Vera Cruz and 
castle of San Juan de Ulloa, and the armaments and 
munitions of war, together with their small arms. The 
officers retained their side arms, and the whole surren- 
dered as prisoners of war, and were allowed to retire into 
the country on their parole. General Scott furnishing 
them four days rations. 

The surrender of the city took place on the 29th. The 
Americans were drawn up in two lines facing each other, 
and extending for more than a mile across the plain. 
The Mexicans left the city with their national music 
playing at ten o'clock, passed between the American lines, 
laid down their colours and arms, and marched for the 
interior. The Americans then entered the city with 
their national music, the stars and stripes were saluted 
by the batteries, the castle, and the fleet, {see opposite) as 
they were flung to the breeze in the Plaza ; General 
Scott established his head-quarters at the place, and 
General Worth became military governor of the city. 

The effect of our shells upon the city was now seen, 
and proved to have been deplorable. 

Hardly a house had escaped, and a large portion of 
them were ruined. The shells had fallen through the 



THE WAR. 143 



Rations issued to the poor of Vera Cruz. 



roofs and exploded inside, tearing every thing into 
pieces — bursting through the partitions and blowing out 
the windows. 

The killed and wounded among the soldiery was 
very slight, about sixty in all ; but the citizens suffered 
severely. It is said that between six and seven hundred 
men, women, and children were killed and wounded, 
more than three hundred being killed. 

A vast quantity of ammunition was found in the 
work. The Mexicans, says a letter writer, left their 
national pets behind in the castle, and our troops suf- 
fered much annoyance from them last night. I allude, 
of course, to fleas and other vermin. 

Santiago Fort, that spiteful little place which played 
so warmly upon our intrenchments, is a beautiful work, 
with nine guns in barbette, most of them fine English 
pieces. In fact, most of their best ordnance is of English 
manufacture, though they have some fine pieces made 
in the United States. 

General Scott ordered ten thousand rations to be 
issued to the suffering poor of Vera Cruz, and it was an 
affecting scene to witness the crowd of half famished 
creatures as they gathered timidly around to receive their 
respective shares. 

After some time spent in restoring the city to clean- 
liness from the disgusting state of filth in which its 
late possessors had left it, the Americans recruited 
themselves from their fatigues. Before setting out for 
the interior General Scott issued a manifesto declaring 
his principle of non-interference with Mexican religion 
and customs. 

On the 1st of April the army left Vera Cruz, and 



144 THE WAR. 



Description of Santa Anna's position. 



advanced on the road to Mexico in high spirits, and in 
the expectation of a speedy battle, as Santa Anna was 
known to be in the neighbourhood with a large force. 
He had assembled another army after his defeat at Buena 
Vista, and now retired before the advance of General 
Scott to Puebla, stripped that city of every thing that 
could be of service to his armyj and finally took up a 
strong position at Cerro Gordo, awaiting the attack of 
General Scott. 

The following graphic description of the Mexican 
general's position, and General Scott's arrangements, is 
by a gentlemen who witnessed the battle. 

"The road from Vera Cruz, as it passes the Plan del 
Rio, which is a wide, rocky bed of a once large stream, 
is commanded by a series of high cliffs, rising one above 
the other, and extending several miles, and all well 
fortified. The road then debouches to the right, and, 
curving around the ridge, passes over a high cliff, which 
is completely enfiladed by forts and batteries. This 
ridge is the commencement of the Terra Templada^ the 
upper or mountainous country. The high and rocky 
ravine of the river protected the right flank of the posi- 
tion, and a series of most abrupt and apparently impas- 
sable mountains and ridges covered their left. Between 
these points, running a distance of two or three miles, a 
succession of strongly fortified forts bristled at every 
turn, and seemed to defy all bravery and skill. The 
Cerro Gordo commanded the road on a gentle declina- 
tion, like a glacis, for nearly a mile — an approach in 
that direction was impossible. A front attack must have 
terminated in the almost entire annihilation of our army. 
But the enemy expected such an attack, confiding in the 



THE WAR. 



145 



tattle of Cerro Gordo. 



desperate valour of our men, and believing that, it was 
impossible to turn their position to the right or left. 
General Scott, however, with the eye of a skilful general, 
perceived the trap set for him, and determined to avoid 
it. He, therefore, had a road cut to the right, so as to 
escape the front fire from the Sierra, and turn his position 
on the left flank. This movement was made known to 
the enemy by a deserter from our camp, and consequently 
a large increase of force under General Vega was sent to 
the forts on their left. General Scott, to cover his flank 
movements, on the 17th of April, ordered forward 
General Twiggs against the fort on the steep ascent, in 
front and a little to the left of the Sierra. Colonel Har- 
ney commanded this expedition, and, at the head of the 
rifles and some detachments of infantry and artillery, 
carried his position under a heavy fire of grape and 
musketry. Having secured this position in front and 
near the enemy's strongest fortification, and having by 
incredible labour elevated one of our large guns to the 
top of the fort. General Scott prepared to follow up his 
advantages. A demonstration was made from this posi- 
tion against another strong fort in the rear, and near the 
Sierra, but the enemy were considered too strong and 
the undertaking was abandoned. A like demonstration 
was made by the enemy." 

On the morning of the 18th, the army moved to the 
attack in columns, and their success was rapid and de- 
cisive. General Twiggs's division assaulted the enemy's 
left, where he had remained during the night, and, after 
a slight resistance, carried the breastwork at the point 
of the bayonet, and completely routed its defenders. 
Meanwhile Pillow's brigade, accompanied by General 
K 13 



146 THE JiVAR. 



Battle of Cerro Gordo. 



Shields, moved rapidly along the Jalapa road, and took 
up a position to intercept the retreat of the Mexicans. 
At the same time General Worth pushed forward toward 
the left, to aid the movement of Twiggs. The rout was 
total. Three thousand men, with field and other officers, 
surrendered, and an immense amount of small arms, 
ordnance and batteries, were also captured. About six 
thousand Mexicans gained the rear of the Americans on 
the Jalapa road, but were closely pursued. The Ame- 
ricans lost two hundred and fifty in killed and wounded — 
among the latter. General Shields ; the loss of the Mexi- 
cans, exclusive of prisoners, was about one hundred more. 

The following description of Twiggs's attack upon 
the Mexican fort, is from the account of an eye-witness : 

**0n the 18th, General Twiggs was ordered forward 
from the position he had already captured, against the 
fort which commanded the Sierra. Simultaneously an 
attack on the fortifications on the enemy's left was to be 
made by Generals Shields and Worth's divisions, who 
moved in separate columns, while General Pillow ad- 
vanced against the strong forts and difficult ascents on 
the right of the enemy's position. The enemy, fully 
acquainted with General Scott's intended movement, 
had thrown large bodies of men into the various posi- 
tions to be attacked. The most serious enterprise was 
that of Twiggs, who advanced against the main fort that 
commanded the Sierra. Nothing can be conceived more 
difficult than this undertaking. The steep and rough 
character of the ground, the constant fire of the enemy 
in front, and the cross fire of the forts and batteries 
which enfiladed our lines, made the duty assigned to 
General Twiggs one of surpassing difficulty. 



THE WAR. 149 



Battle of Cerro Gordo. 



Nothing prevented our men from being utterly de- 
stroyed but the steepness of the ascent under which they 
could shelter. But they sought no shelter, and onward 
rushed against a hailstorm of balls and musket-shot, led 
by the gallant Harney, whose noble bearing elicited 
the applause of the whole army. His conspicuous and 
stalwart frame at the head of his brigade, his long arm 
waving his men on to the charge, his sturdy voice ring- 
ing above the clash of arms and din of conflict, attracted 
the attention and admiration alike of the enemy and of 
our own men. On, on, he led the columns, whose front 
lines melted before the enemy's fire like snow-flakes in a 
torrent, and stayed not their course until leaping over the 
rocky barriers, and bayoneting their gunners, they drove 
the enemy pellmell from the fort, delivering a deadly 
fire into their ranks, from their own guns, as they hastily 
retired. This was truly a gallant deed, worthy the 
Chevalier Bayard of our army, as the intrepid Harney 
is well styled. General Scott, between whom and Colo- 
nel Harney there had existed some coolness, rode up to 
the colonel after this achievement, and remarked to him — 
* Colonel Harney, I cannot now adequately express my 
admiration of your gallant achievement, but at the proper 
time I shall take great pleasure in thanking you in proper 
terms.' Harney, with the modesty of true valour, claimed 
the praise as due to his officers and men. Thus did the 
division of the gallant veteran, Twiggs, carry the main 
position of the enemy, and occupy the front which com- 
manded the road. It was here the enemy received their 
heaviest loss, and their general, Vasquez, was killed. A 
little after. General Worth, having, by great exertions, 
passed the steep and craggy heights on the enemy's left, 

13* 



150 THE WAR. 



Battle of Cerro Gordo. 



summoned a strong fort in the rear of the Sierra to sur- 
render. This fort was manned by a large force under 
General Pinzon, a mulatto officer of considerable ability 
and courage, who, seeing the Sierra carried, thought 
it prudent to surrender, which he did with all his force. 
General Shields was not so fortunate in the battery 
which he attacked, and which was commanded by Ge- 
neral La Vega. A heavy fire was opened on him, under 
which the fort was carried with some loss by the gallant 
Illinoisians, under Baker and Bennett, supported by the 
New Yorkers, under Burnett. Among those who fell 
under this fire was the gallant general, who received a 
grape-shot through his lungs, by which he was com- 
pletely paralyzed, and thrown into a critical and dan- 
gerous state. On the enemy's right, General Pillow 
commenced the attack against the strong forts near the 
river. The Tennesseeans, under Haskell, led the column, 
and the other volunteer regiments followed. This column 
unexpectedly encountered a heavy fire from a masked 
battery, by which Haskell's regiment was nearly cut to 
pieces, and the other volunteer regiments were severely 
handled. General Pillow withdrew his men, and was 
preparing for another attack, when the operations at the 
other points having proved successful, the enemy con- 
cluded to surrender. Thus the victory was complete, 
and four generals, and about six thousand men, were 
taken prisoners by our army. One of their principal 
generals and a large number of other officers killed. The 
Mexican force on this occasion certainly exceeded our 
own. 

According to the account of the captured officers, 
Santa Anna had in his lines at least eight thousand men, 



THE WAR. 163 



Twiggs enters Jalapa. 



and without the intrenchments about six thousand, of 
which a third was cavalry. The army was composed 
of the best soldiers in Mexico. The infantry who had 
fought so bravely at Buena Vista, and all the regular ar- 
tillerists of the republic, including several naval officers, 
were present. Some of the officers whom General Scott 
released at the capitulation of Vera Cruz without extort- 
ing the parole on account of their gallantry, were found 
among the killed and wounded. Of the latter was a 
gallant young officer named Halzinger, a German by 
birth, who excited the admiration of our army during 
the bombardment of Vera Cruz, by seizing a flag which 
had been cut down by our balls, and holding it in his 
right hand until a staff could be procured. He had been 
released by General Scott without a parole, and was 
found on the field of Cerro Gordo dangerously wounded. 
In addition to the loss of the enemy in killed and taken 
they lost about thirty pieces of brass cannon, mostly of 
large calibre, manufactured at the royal foundry of Se- 
ville. A large quantity of fixed ammunition, of a very 
superior quality, together with the private baggage and 
money-chest of Santa Anna, containing twenty thousand 
dollars, was also captured." 

Leaving the scene of this great victory the army 
moved forward towards the capital. On the 19th of April, 
General Twiggs took the city of Jalapa with one de- 
tachment, and on the 22d, another under General Worth 
entered the city of Perote, where, to use the words of 
a humorous writer, *' an officer politely handed over the 
keys of the well-known castle and prison, bowed, and 
followed the footsteps of his twice-whipped excel- 
lency." 



154 THE WAR. 



Worth, enters Puebla. 



^^ The enemy's forces had all left that place, and our 
general took possession of the castle, with its arma- 
ment in perfect order. Colonel Velasques had been left 
behind to surrender all things in the name of the go- 
vernment. Fifty cannons, three mortars, four stone 
mortars, and four or five howitzers, together with a large 
number of round shot and shells, and great quantities 
of other ammunition, and small arms were delivered up 
to us. Generals Morales and Landero, who had been 
imprisoned by Santa Anna for capitulating at Vera Cruz, 
w^ere released on the appearance of the Americans. 
Two South Carolina volunteers, and an American 
sailor, taken near Vera Cruz, were prisoners in the castle, 
and of course released by our troops. Ampudia was 
in the vicinity of Perote on the approach of General 
Worth, but had not the politeness to visit him before 
taking his departure, which is said to have been hurried. 
Some two or three thousand infantry and cavalry of the 
enemy were also in the neighbourhood at the time. 

On the road the inhabitants complained bitterly of 
outrages perpetrated by the retreating soldiers from 
Cerro Gordo, and many of them had left their homes." 

This treatment received from their own countrymen 
contrasted strongly with that experienced from their 
generous foe. Pushing on from Perote, General Worth 
took possession on the 15th of May of the city of Pue- 
bla, Santa Anna retiring before him with nothing more 
than a show of opposition. 

When General Worth had reached a point some miles 
distant from Puebla, General Santa Anna was in the 
city, engaged in distributing shoes to his soldiers, and a 
detachment, with which General Worth had a skirmish, 



^ , P T1"" ' " '^^^ ^ 



Ml f 




THE WAR. 157 



American army concentrated at Fuebla. 



was sent out by him to delay the advance. General 
Worth advanced so rapidly, however, as to enter the 
city almost directly behind the flying cavalry, and Gene- 
ral Santa Anna was obliged to retire in all haste, leaving 
many of his soldiers to run barefoot. He marched di- 
rectly to the capital, issuing on the march, at Ayotla, an 
address, perhaps the most ingenious Mexican document 
occasioned by the present war, offering to resign all 
power, but suggesting at the same time a plan by which 
he hoped to conduct the war to a successful termination. 
Of course the answer to this letter was an entire acqui- 
escence in the views of Santa Anna by the president 
substitute, an invitation to the capital, and its conse- 
quence, the assumption of supreme pov/er. Santa Anna 
left the army to follow, and with some officers entered 
the capital, and commenced making preparations for its 
defense. In May he left the city and manoeuvered about, 
threatening an attack on Vera Cruz, but returned with- 
out effecting any thing. 

In the latter part of May, General Scott concentrated 
his army at Puebla, and prepared to advance upon the 
capital itself. The history of his operations is given with 
great perspicacity in his official despatches. We quote 
them in preference to following the statements made by 
others, because as the head of the army, all its opera- 
tions come under his control and knowledge, and the 
account of them which he gives is naturally more com- 
prehensive than those of other officers or observers, 
however valuable the latter may be as testimonials of 
individual gallantry. Writing on the 19th of August, 
nine miles from Mexico, he states that — 

*' Leaving a competent garrison in Puebla, the Ame^ 
14 



158 THE WAR. 



Reconnoissances upon the Penon. 



rican army advanced upon the capital by divisions, 
becoming more closely approximated as they descended 
into the basin of the capital (seventy-five miles from 
Puebla) about the head of Lake Chalco, with Lake 
Tescuco a little in front and to the right. On the 12th 
and 13th we pushed reconnoissances upon the Penon, 
an isolated mound (eight miles from Mexico) of great 
height, strongly fortified to the top (three tiers of works) 
and flooded around the base by the season of rains and 
sluices from the lakes. This mound, close to the national 
road, commands the principal approach to the city from 
the east. No doubt it might have been carried, but at a 
great and disproportionate loss, and I was anxious to 
spare the lives of this gallant army for a general battle 
which I knew we had to win before capturing the city, 
or obtaining the object of the campaign — a just and 
honourable peace. 

Another reconnoissance was directed (13th) upon 
Mexicalcingo, to the lefi; of the Penon, a village at a 
fortified bridge across the outlet or canal, leading from 
Lake Jochimilco to the capital — five miles from the lat- 
ter. It might have been easy (masking the Penon) to 
force the passage ; but on the other side of the bridge 
we should have found ourselves four miles from this 
road, on a narrow causeway, flanked to the right and 
left by water or boggy gi^ounds. Those difficulties, 
closely viewed, threw me back upon the project, long 
entertained, of turning the strong eastern defenses of the 
city, by passing around south of Lake Chalco and Jo- 
chimilco, at the foot of the hills and mountains, so as to 
reach this point, and hence to manoeuver, on hard ground, 
though much broken, to the south and south-west of the 



THE WAR. 159 



Twiggs defeats Valencia. 



capital, which has been more or less under our view, 
since the 10th instant. 

Accordingly, Worth's division, with Harney's cavalry 
brigade leading — we marched on the 15th instant. Pil- 
low's and Quitman's divisions followed closely, and then 
Twiggs's division, which was left till the next day at 
Ayotla, in order to threaten the Penon and Mexicalcingo, 
and to deceive the enemy as long as practicable. 

Twiggs, on the 16th, marching from Ayotla towards 
Chalco, (six miles,) met a corps of more than double his 
number — cavalry and infantry — under General Valencia. 
Twiggs halted, deployed into line, and by a few rounds 
from Captain Taylor's field battery, dispersed the enemy, 
killing and wounding many men and horses. No other 
molestation has been experienced except a few random 
shots from guerilleros, on the height ; and the march of 
twenty-seven miles, over a route deemed impracticable 
by the enemy, is now accomplished by all the corps — 
thanks to their indomitable zeal and physical prowess. 

Arriving here, the 18th, Worth's division and Harney's 
cavalry were pushed forward a league, to reconnoiter 
and to carry or to mask San Antonio, on the direct road 
to the capital. This village was found strongly defended 
by field-works, heavy guns, and a numerous garrison. 
It could only be turned by infantry, to the left, over a 
field of volcanic rocks and lava ; for, to our right, the 
ground was too boggy. It was soon ascertained, by the 
daring engineers, Captain Mason, and Lieutenants Ste- 
vens and Tower, that the point could only be approached 
by the front, over a narrow causeway, flanked with wet 
ditches of great depth. Worth was ordered not to 
attack, but to tlireaten and to mask the place. 



160 THE WAR. 



Death, of Captain Thornton. 



The first shot fired from San Antonio (the 8th) killed 
Captain S. Thornton, 2d dragoons, a gallant ofl^cer, who 
was covering the operations with his company. 

The same day, a reconnoissance was commenced to 
the left of San Augustin, first over difficult mounds, and 
farther on, over the same field of volcanic rocks and 
lava which extends to the mountains, some five miles 
from San Antonio, towards Magdalena. This recon- 
noissance was continued to-day, by Captain Lee, assisted 
by Lieutenants Beauregard and Tower, all of the engi- 
neers ; who were joined, in the afternoon, by Major 
Smith of the same corps. Other divisions coming up. 
Pillow's was advanced to make a practicable road for 
heavy artillery, and Twiggs's thrown farther in front, to 
cover that operation ; for, by the partial reconnoissance 
of yesterday, Captain Lee discovered a large corps of 
observation in that direction, with a detachment of 
which his supports of cavalry and foot under Captain 
Kearney and Lieutenant-Colonel Graham, respectively, 
had a successful skirmish. 

By three o'clock this afternoon, the advanced divisions 
came to a point where the new road could only be con- 
tinued under the direct fire of twenty-two pieces of the 
enemy's artillery, (most of them of large calibre,) placed 
in a strong intrenched camp to oppose our operations, 
and surrounded by every advantage of ground, besides 
immense bodies of cavalry and infantry, hourly reinforced 
from the city, over an excellent road beyond the vol- 
canic field, and consequently entirely beyond the reach 
of our cavalry and artillery. 

Arriving on the ground, an hour later, I found tjiat 
Pillow's and Twiggs's divisions had advanced to dis- 



THE WAR. 161 



Battle of San Augustin. 



lodge the enemy, picking their way (all officers on foot) 
along his front, and extending themselves towards the 
road, from the city and the enemy's left. Captain Ma- 
gruder's field battery, of twelve and six-pounders, and 
Lieutenant Callender's battery of mounted howitzers 
and rockets, had also, with great difficulty, been ad- 
vanced within range of the intrenched camp. These 
batteries, most gallantly served, suffered much, in the 
course of the afternoon, from the enemy's superior 
metal. 

The battle, though mostly stationary, continued to 
rage with great violence, until nightfall. Brevet Briga- 
dier-General P. F. Smith's and Brevet Colonel Riley's 
brigades (Twiggs's division) supported by Brigadier- 
Generals Pierce's and Cadwalader's brigades (Pillow's 
division) were more than three hours under a heavy fire 
of artillery and musketry, along the almost impassable 
ravine in front and to the left of the intrenched camp. 
Besides the twenty-two pieces of artillery, the camp and 
ravine were defended closely by masses of infantry, and 
these again supported by clouds of cavalry at hand and 
hovering in view. Consequently no decided impression 
could be made by daylight, on the enemy's most for- 
midable position, because, independent of the difficulty 
of the ravine, our infantry, unaccompanied by cavalry 
and artillery, could not advance in column without being 
* mowed down by the grape and canister of the batteries, 
nor advance in line without being ridden over by the 
enemy's numerous cavalry. All our corps, however, 
including Magruder's and Callender's last batteries, not 
only maintained the exposed positions early gained, but 
all attempted charges upon them, respectively — particu- 
L 14* 



162 THE WAR. 



Occupation of Oontreras. 



larly on Riley, twice closely engaged with cavalry in 
greatly superior numbers — were repulsed and punished. 

From an eminence, soon after arriving near the scene, 
I observed the church and hamlet of Contreras (or An- 
salda) on the road leading up from the capital, through 
the intrenched camp to Magdalena, and seeing, at the- 
same time, the stream of reinforcements advancing by 
the road, from the city, I ordered (through Major-Gene- 
ral Pillow) Colonel Morgan, with his regiment, the 15th, 
till then held in reserve by Pillow, to move forward, and 
to occupy Contreras, or Ansalda, — being persuaded, if 
occupied, it would arrest the enemy's reinforcements 
and ultimately decide the battle. 

Riley was already on the enemy's left, in advance of 
the hamlet. A few minutes later, Brigadier-General 
Shields, with his volunteer brigade, (New York and 
South Carolina regiments,) coming up under my orders 
from San Augustin, I directed Shields to follow and 
sustain Morgan. These corps, over the extreme diffi- 
culties of ground — partially covered with a low forest — 
before described, reached Contreras, and found Cad- 
walader's brigade, in poshion, observing the formidable 
movement from the capital and much needing the timely 
reinforcement. 

It was already dark, and the cold rain had begun to 
fall in torrents upon our unsheltered troops ; for the 
hamlet, though a strong defensive position, can hold 
only the w^ounded men, and, unfortunately, the new 
regiments have little or nothing to eat in their haver- 
sacks. Wet, hungry, and without the possibility of 
sleep, all our gallant corps, I learn, are full of confi- 
dence, and only wait for the last hour of darkness to 



THE WAR. 163 



Battle of Contreras. 



gain the positions whence to storm and carry the enemy's 
works. 

Of the seven officers despatched, since about sun- 
down, from my position, opposite to the enemy's centre, 
and on this side of the field of rocks and lava — to com- 
municate instructions to the hamlet — not one has suc- 
ceeded in getting through those difficulties, increased 
by darkness. They have all returned. But the gallant 
and indefatigable Captain Lee, of 'the engineers, who 
has been constantly with the operating forces, is just in 
from Shields, Smith, Cadwalader, &c., to report as 
above, and to ask that a powerful diversion be made 
against the centre of the intrenched camp towards 
morning. 

Brigadier-General Twiggs, cut off, as above, from the 
part of his division beyond the impracticable ground, 
and Captain Lee are gone, under my orders, to collect 
the forces remaining on this side, with which to make 
that diversion about five o'clock, in the morning." 

*' The morning of the 20th opened with one of a series 
of unsurpassed achievements, all in view of the capital, 
and to which I shall give the general name — Battle of 
Mexico. 

In the night of the 19th, Brigadier- General Shields, 
P. F. Smith, and Cadwalader, and Colonel Riley, with 
their brigades, and the 15th regiment, under Colonel 
Morgan, detached from Brigadier-General Pierce — found 
themselves in and about the important position — the 
village, hamlet or hacienda, called, indifferently, Con- 
treras, Ansalda San Geronimo — half a mile nearer to 
the city than the enemy's intrenched camp on the same 
road, towards the factory of Magdalena. 



164 THE WAR. 



Battle of Contreras. 



That camp had been, unexpectedly, our formidable 
point of attack the afternoon before, and we had now 
to take it, without the aid of cavalry or artillery, or to 
throw back our advanced corps upon the road from San 
Augustin to the city, and thence force a passage through 
San Antonio. 

Accordingly to meet contingencies, Major- General 
Worth was ordered to leave, early in the morning of the 
20th, one of his brigades to mask San Antonio, and to 
march with the other six miles, via San Augustin, upon 
Contreras. A like destination was given to Major-Gene- 
ral Quitman and his remaining brigade in San Augustin 
— replacing, for the moment, the garrison of that im- 
portant depot with Harney's brigade of cavalry, as horse 
could not pass over the intervening rocks, &c., to reach 
the field of battle. 

A diversion for an earlier hour (daylight) had been 
arranged the night before, according to the suggestion 
of Brigadier-General Smith, received through the engi- 
neer. Captain Lee, who conveyed my orders to our 
troops remaining on the ground opposite to the enemy's 
centre — the point for the diversion or a real attack, as 
circumstances might allow. 

Guided by Captain Lee, it proved the latter under 
the command of Colonel Ransom, of the 9th, having 
with him that regiment and some companies of three 
others — the 3d, 12th, and rifles. 

Shields, the senior officer at the hamlet, having arrived 
in the night, after Smith had arranged with Cadwalader 
and Riley the plan of attack for the morning, delicately 
waived interference ; but reserved to himself the double 
task of holding the hamlet with his two regiments, 




General Butler. 



THE WAR. 167 



Battle of Contrexas. 



(South Carolina and New York volunteers,) against ten 
times his numbers on the side of the city, including the 
slopes to his left, and, in case the camp in his rear 
should be carried, to face about and cut off the flying 
enemy. 

At three o'clock, a. m., the great movement com- 
menced on the rear of the enemy's camp, Riley leading, 
followed successively by Cadwalader's and Smith's bri- 
gades, the latter temporarily under the orders of Major 
Dimick of the 1st artillery — the whole force being com- 
manded by Smith, the senior in the general attack, and 
whose arrangements, skill, and gallantry, always chal- 
lenge the highest admiration. 

The march was rendered tedious by the darkness, 
rain, and mud ; but about sunrise, Riley, conducted by 
Lieutenant Tower, engineer, had reached an elevation 
behind the enemy, whence he precipitated his columns ; — 
stormed the intrenchments, planted his several colours 
upon them, and carried the work — all in seventeen 
minutes. 

Conducted by Lieutenant Beauregard, engineer, and 
Lieutenant Brooks, of Twiggs's staff, both of whom, like 
Lieutenant Tower, had, in the night, twice reconnoitered 
the ground — Cadwalader brought up to the general as- 
sault, two of his regiments — the voltigeurs and the 11th, 
and at the appointed time, Colonel Ransom, with his 
temporary brigade, conducted by Captain Lee, engineer, 
not only made the movement to divert and to distract 
the enemy; but, after crossing the deep ravine in his 
front, advanced, and poured into the works and upon 
the fugitives, many volleys from his destructive musketry. 

In the mean time Smith's own brigade, under the 



168 THE WAR. 



Eattle of Contreras. 



temporary command of Major Dimick, following the 
movements of Riley and Cadwalader, discovered, oppo- 
site to, and outside of the works, a long line of Mexican 
cavalry, drawn up as a support. Dimick, having at the 
head of the brigade the company of sappers and miners, 
under Lieutenant Smith, engineer, who had conducted 
the march, was ordered by Brigadier-General Smith, to 
form line faced to the enemy, and in a charge against a 
flank, routed the cavalry. 

Shields, too, by the wise disposition of his brigade 
and gallant activity, contributed much to the general 
results. He held masses of cavalry and infantry, sup- 
ported by artillery, in check below him, and captured 
hundreds, with one general, (Mendoza,) of those who 
fled from above. 

I doubt whether a more brilliant or decisive victory — 
taking into view, ground, artificial defenses, batteries, 
and the extreme disparity of numbers — without cavalry 
or artillery on our side — is to be found on record. In- 
cluding all our corps directed against the intrenched 
camp, with Shields's brigade at the hamlet, we positively 
did not number over four thousand five hundred rank 
and file ; and we know, by sight and since, more cer- 
tainly by many captured documents and letters, that the 
enemy had actually engaged on the spot seven thousand 
men, with at least twelve thousand more hovering with- 
in sight, and striking distance — both on the 16th and 
20th. All, not killed or captured, now fled with pre- 
cipitation. 

Thus was the great victory of Contreras achieved ; 
one road to the capital opened ; seven hundred of the 
enemy killed ; eight hundred and forty-three prisoners, 



THE WAR. 169 



Results of the battle. 



including, among eighty-eight officers, four generals; 
besides many colours and standards ; twenty-two pieces 
of brass ordnance — half of large calibre ; thousands of 
small arms and accoutrements ; an immense quantity of 
shot, shells, powder, and cartridges; seven hundred 
pack mules, many horses, &c., all in our hands. 

It is highly gratifying to find that, by skilful arrange- 
ment, and rapidity of execution, our loss in killed and 
wounded, did not exceed, on the spot, sixty — among 
the former the brave Captain Charles Hanson, of the 7th 
infantry — not more distinguished for gallantry, than for 
modesty, morals, and piety. Lieutenant J. P. Johnstone, 
1st artillery, serving with Magruder's battery — a young 
officer of the highest promise, was killed the evening 
before. 

One of the most pleasing incidents of the victory is 
the recapture, in the works, by Captain Drum, 4th ar- 
tillery, under Major Gardner, of the two brass six 
pounders, taken from another company of the same 
regiment, though without the loss of honour, at the 
glorious battle of Buena Vista — about which guns the 
whole regiment had mourned for so many long months ! 
Coming up, a little later, I had the happiness to join in 
the protracted cheers of the gallant 4th on the joyous 
event, and, indeed, the whole army sympathizes in its 
just pride and exultation. 

The battle being won before the advancing brigades 
of Worth's and Quitman's divisions were in sight, both 
were ordered back to their late positions — Worth, to 
attack San Antonio, in front, with his whole force, as 
soon as approached in the rear, by Pillow's and Twiggs's 
divisions — moving from Contreras, through San Angel 

15 



170 THE WAR. 



Battle of Churubusco. 



and Coyoacan. By carrying San Antonio we knew that 
we should open another — a shorter and better road to 
the capital, for our siege and other trains. 

Accordingly, the two advanced divisions and Shields's 
brigade marched from Contreras, under the immediate 
orders of Major-Gene ral Pillow, who was now joined by 
the gallant Brigadier- General Pierce of his division, per- 
sonally throw^n out of activity, late the evening before, 
by a severe hurt received from the fall of his horse. 

After giving necessary orders on the field, in the 
midst of prisoners and trophies, and sending instruc- 
tions to Harney's brigade of cavalry, left at San Augustin, 
to join me, I personally followed Pillow's movement. 

Arriving at Coyoacan, two miles by a cross road, from 
the rear of San Antonio, I first detached Captain Lee, 
engineer, wdth Captain Kearney's troop, 1st dragoons, 
supported by the rifle regiment, under Major Loring, to 
reconnoiter that strong point, and next despatched Ma- 
jor-General Pillow, with one of his brigades (Cadwala- 
der's) to make the attack upon it, in concert with Major- 
General Worth, on the opposite side. 

At the same time, by another road to the left, Lieute- 
nant Stevens, of the engineers, supported by Lieutenant 
G. W. Smith's company of sappers and miners, of the 
same corps, was sent to reconnoiter the strongly forti- 
fied church or convent of San Pablo, in the hamlet of 
Churubusco — one mile off. Twiggs with one of the 
brigades, and Captain Taylor's field battery, were ordered 
to follow and attack the convent. Major Smith, senior 
engineer, was despatched to concert with Twiggs the 
mode and means of attack, and Twiggs's other brigade, 
I soon ordered up to support him. 



THE WAR. 171 



Battle of Claurubusco. 



Next (but all in ten minutes) I sent Pierce (just able 
to keep the saddle) with his brigade (Pillow's division) 
conducted by Captain Lee, engineer, by a third road, 
a little farther to our left, to attack the enemy's right 
and rear, in order to favour the movement upon the con- 
vent and cut off the retreat towards the capital. And 
finally, Shields, senior brigadier to Pierce, with the New 
York and South Carolina volunteers, (Quitman's divi- 
sion,) was ordered to follow Pierce, closely, and to take 
the command of our left wing. All these movements 
were made with the utmost alacrity by our gallant troops 
and commanders. 

Finding myself at Coyoacan, from which so many roads 
conveniently branched, without escort or reserve, I had 
to advance, for safety, close upon Twiggs's rear. The 
battle now raged from the right to the left of our whole 
line. 

Learning, on the return of Captain Lee, that Shields, 
in the rear of Churubusco, was hard pressed, and in 
danger of being outflanked, if not overwhelmed, by 
greatly superior numbers, I immediately sent, under 
Major Sumner, 2d dragoons, the rifles, (Twiggs's 
reserve,) and Captain Sibley's troop, 2d dragoons, 
then at hand, to support our left, guided by the same 
engineer. 

About an hour earlier. Worth had, by skilful 'and 
daring movements upon the front and right, turned and 
forced San Antonio — its garrison, no doubt, much 
shaken by our decisive victory at Contreras. 

His second brigade, (Colonel Clarke's,) conducted by 
Captain Mason, engineer, assisted by Lieutenant Hard- 
castle, topographical engineer, turned the right, and by 



172 THE WAR. 



Battle of Churubusco. 



a wide sweep, came out upon the high road to the capi- 
tal. At this point, the heavy garrison (three thousand 
men) in retreat, was, by Clarke cut in the centre : one 
portion, the rear driven upon Dolores, off to the right ; 
and the other upon Churubusco, in the direct line of our 
operation*. The first brigade, (Colonel Garland's,) same 
division, consisting of the second artillery, under Major 
Gait, the 3d artillery, under Lieutenant- Colonel Belton, 
and the 4th infantry, commanded by Major F. Lee, with 
Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan's field battery (temporarily) 
followed in pursuit through the town, taking one gene- 
ral prisoner, the abandoned guns, (five pieces,) much 
ammunition and other public property. 

The forcing of San Antonio was the second brilliant 
event of the day. 

Worth's division being soon reunited in hot pursuit, he 
was joined by Major-General Pillow, who, marching 
from Coyoacan and discovering that San Antonio had 
been carried, immediately turned to the left, according 
to my instruction, and though much impeded by ditches 
and swamps, hastened to the attack of Churubusco. 

The hamlet or scattered houses, bearing this name, 
presented, besides the fortified convent, a strong field- 
work, {tete de pont) with regular bastions and curtains, 
at the head of a bridge, over which the road passes from 
San Antonio to the capital. 

The whole remaining forces of Mexico — some twenty- 
seven thousand men — cavalry, artillery, and infantry, 
collected from every quarter — were now in, on the 
flanks or within supporting distance of those works, and 
seemed resolved to make a last and desperate stand ; for 
if beaten here, the feebler defenses at the gates of the 



THE WAR, 173 



Battle of CiLurubusco. 



city — four miles off — could not, as was well known to 
both parties, delay the victors an hour. The capital of 
an ancient empire, now of a great republic ; or an early 
peace, the assailants were resolved to win. Not an 
American — and we were less than a third of the enemy's 
numbers — had a doubt as to the result. 

The fortified church or convent, hotly pressed by 
Twiggs, had already held out about an hour, when 
Worth and Pillow — the latter having with him only 
Cadwalader's brigade — began to manoeuver upon the 
tete de pont, with the convent at half gun-shot, to their 
left. Garland's brigade, (Worth's division,) to which 
had been added the light battalion under Lieutenant- 
Colonel Smith, continued to advance in front, and under 
the fire of a long line of infantry, off on the left of the 
brigade ; and Clarke, of the same division, directed his 
brigade along the road or close by its side. Two of 
Pillow's and Cadwalader's regiments, the 11th and 14th, 
supported and participated in this direct movement : the 
other (the voltigeurs) was left in reserve. Most of these 
corps — particularly Clarke's brigade, advancing perpen- 
dicularly — were made to suffer much by the fire of the 
tete de jw7itj and they would have suffered greatly more 
by flank attacks from the convent, but for the pressure 
of Twiggs on the other side of that work. 

This well-combined and daring movement, at length 
reached the principal point of attack, and the formidable 
tete de pont, was, at once, assaulted and carried by the 
bayonet. Its deep wet ditch was first gallantly crossed 
by the 8th and 5th infantry, commanded respectively by 
Major Waite and Lieutenant-Colonel Scott — followed 
closely, by the 6th infantry, (same brigade) which had 
15* 



174 THE WAR. 



Battle of Cliurubusco. 



been so much exposed in the road — the 11th regiment, 
under Lieutenant-Colonel Graham, and the 14th, com- 
manded by Colonel Trousdale, both of Cadwalader's 
brigade, Pillow's division. About the same time, the 
enemy, in front of Garland, after a hot conflict of an 
hour and a half, gave way, in a retreat towards the 
capital. 

The immediate result of this third signal triumph of 
the day were three field-pieces, one hundred and ninety- 
two prisoners, much ammunition and two colours, taken 
in the tete de pont. 

As the concurrent attack upon the convent favoured 
physically and morally, the assault upon the tete de pont, 
so, reciprocally, no doubt, the fall of the latter, contri- 
buted to the capture of the former. The two works 
w^ere only some four hundred and fifty yards apart ; and 
as soon as we were in possession of the tete depont, a cap- 
tured four-pounder was turned and fired — first by Captain 
Larkin Smith, and next by Lieutenant Snelling, both of 
the 8th infantry — several times upon the convent. In 
the same brief interval, Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan, 
(also of Worth's division,) gallantly brought two of his 
guns to bear, at a short range, from the San Antonio 
road, upon the principal face of the work, and on the 
tower of the church, which, in the obstinate contest had 
been often refilled with some of the best sharp-shooters 
of the enemy. 

Finally, twenty minutes after the tete de pont had been 
carried by Worth and Pillow, and at the end of a des- 
perate conflict of two hours and a half, the church or 
convent — the citadel of the strong line of defense along 
the rivulet of Churubusco — yielded to Twiggs's division, 



THE WAR. 177 



Battle of Churubusco. 



and threw out, on all sides, signals of surrender. The 
white flags, however, were not exhibited until the mo- 
ment when the 3d infantry, under Captain Alexander, 
had cleared the way by fire and bayonet, and had 
entered the work. Captain J. M. Smith and Lieutenant 
O. L. Shepherd, both of that regiment with their com- 
panies, had the glory of leading the assault. The former 
received the surrender, and Captain Alexander instantly 
hung out from a balcony, the colours of the gallant 3d. 
Major Dimick, with a part of the 1st artillery, serving 
as infantry, entered nearly abreast with the leading 
troops. 

Lieutenant J. F. Irons, 1st artillery, aid- de-camp to 
Brigadier- General Cadwalader, a young officer of great 
merit, and conspicuous in battle, on several previous 
occasions, received, in front of the work, a mortal 
wound. (Since dead.) 

Captain Taylor's field battery, attached to Twiggs's di- 
vision, opened its effective fire, at an early moment, upon 
the out- works of the convent and the tower of its church. 
Exposed to the severest fire of the enemy, the captain, 
his officers and men, won universal admiration ; but at 
length much disabled in men and horses, the battery 
was, by superior orders, withdrawn from the action thirty 
minutes before the surrender of the convent. 

These corps, excepting Taylor's battery, belonged to 
the brigade of Brigadier-General Smith, who closely 
directed the whole attack in front, with his habitual 
coolness and ability; while Riley's brigade — the 2d 
and 7th infantry, under Captain T. Morris and Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Plympton, respectively, vigorously en- 
gaged the right of the work and part of its rear. At the 
M 



178 THE WAR. 



The fourth victory. 



moment, the rifles, belonging to Smith's, were detached 
in support of Brigadier-General Shields on our extreme 
left, and the 4th artillery, acting as infantry, under 
Major Gardner, belonging to Riley's brigade had been 
left in charge of the camp, trophies, &c., at Contreras. 
Twiggs's division, at Churubusco, had thus been deprived 
of the services of two of its most gallant and effective 
regiments. 

The immediate results of this victory were : — the cap- 
ture of seven field-pieces, some ammunition, one colour, 
three generals, and one thousand two hundred and sixty- 
one prisoners, including other officers. 

The capture of the enemy's citadel was the fourth 
great achievement of our arms in the same day. 

It has been stated that, some two hours and half be- 
fore, Pierce's, followed closely by the volunteer brigade, 
both under the command of Brigadier-General Shields, 
had been detached to our left to turn the enemy's works ; 
— to prevent the escape of the garrisons, and to oppose 
the extension of the enemy's numerous corps, from the 
rear, upon and around our left. 

Considering the inferior numbers of the two brigades, 
the objects of the movement were difficult to accom- 
plish. Hence the reinforcement (the rifles, &c.,) sent 
forward a little later. 

In a winding march of a mile around to the right, this 
temporary division found itself on the edge of an open 
wet meadow, near the road from San Antonio to the 
capital, and in the presence of some four thousand of the 
enemy's infantry, a little in rear of Churubusco, on 
that road. Establishing the right at a strong building, 
Shields extended his left, parrallel to the road, to out- 



THE WAR. 179 



The fifth victory. 



flank the enemy towards the capital. But the enemy 
extending his right, supported by three thousand cavalry, 
more rapidly, (being favoured with better ground,) in 
the same direction, Shields concentrated the division 
about a hamlet, and determined to attack in front. The 
battle was long, hot, and varied ; but ultimately success 
crowned the zeal and gallantry of our troops, ably 
directed by their distinguished commander, Brigadier- 
General Shields. The 9th, 12th, and 15th regiments, 
under Colonel Ransom, Captain Wood and Colonel 
Morgan, respectively, of Pierce's brigade, (Pillow's divi- 
sion,) and the New York and South Carolina volunteers, 
under Colonels Burnett and Butler, respectively, of 
Shields's own brigade, (Quitman's division,) together 
with the mountain howitzer battery, now under Lieu- 
tenant Reno, of the ordnance corps, all shared in the 
glory of this action — our fifth victory in the same day. 
Brigadier-General Pierce, from the hurt of the even- 
ing before — under pain and exhaustion — fainted in the 
action. Several other changes in command, occurred 
on this field. Thus, Colonel Morgan, being severely 
wounded, the command of the 15th infantry devolved 
on Lieutenant-Colonel Howard. Colonel Burnet, re- 
ceiving a like wound, the command of the New York 
volunteers fell to Lieutenant-Colonel Baxter; and, on 
the fall of the lamented Colonel P. M. Butler — earlier 
badly wounded, but continuing to lead nobly in the 
hottest part of the battle — the command of the South 
Carolina volunteers devolved first, on Lieutenant-Colonel 
Dickinson, who being severely wounded (as before in 
the seige of Vera Cruz,) the regiment ultimately fell 
under the orders of Major Gladden. 



180 THE WAR. 



Pursuit of tiic enemy. 



Lieutenants David Adams and W. R. Williams, of 
the same corps ; Captain Augustus Quarles and Lieu- 
tenant J. B. Goodman, of the 15th, and Lieutenant E. 
Chandler, New York volunteers — all gallant officers, 
nobly fell in the same action. 

Shields took three hundred and eighty prisoners, in- 
cluding officers, and it cannot be doubted that the rage 
of the conflict between him and the enemy, just in the 
rear of the tete de pont and the convent, had some in- 
fluence on the surrender of those formidable defenses. 

As soon as the tete de pont was carried, the greater 
part of Worth's and Pillow's forces passed that brigade 
in rapid pursuit of the flying enemy. These distin- 
guished generals, coming up with Brigadier-General 
Shields, now also victorious, the three continued to 
press upon the fugitives to within a mile and a half of 
the capital. Here Colonel Harney, with a small part 
of his brigade of cavalry, rapidly passed to the front and 
charged the enemy up to the nearest gate. 

The cavalry charge was headed by Captain Kearney, 
of the first dragoons, having in squadron with his own 
troop, that of Captain McReynolds, of the 3d — making 
the usual escort to general head-quarters; but being 
early in the day, detached for general service, was now 
under Colonel Harney's orders. The gallant captain 
not hearing the recall that had been sounded, dashed up 
to the San Antonio gate, sabreing, in his way, all who 
resisted. Of the seven officers of the squadron, Kearney 
lost his left arm ; McReynolds and Lieutenant Lorimer 
Graham were both severely wounded, and Lieutenant 
R. S. Ewell, who succeeded to the command of the 
escort, had two horses killed under him. Major F. D. 



THE WAR. 181 



Nuraber of prisoners, killed and wounded. 



Mills, of the 15th infantry, a volunteer in this charge, 
was killed at the gate. 

So terminated the series of events which I have but 
feebly presented. My thanks were freely poured out on 
the different fields — to the abilities and science of gene- 
rals and other officers — to the gallantry and prowess of 
all — the rank and file included. But a reward infinitely 
higher — the applause of a grateful country and govern- 
ment, will, I cannot doubt, be accorded, in due time, to 
so much merit, of every sort, displayed by this glorious 
army, which has now overcome all difficulties — distance, 
climate, ground, fortifications, numbers. 

It has in a single day, in many battles, as often defeated 
thirty-two thousand men; made about three thousand 
prisoners, including eight generals, (two of them ex-pre- 
sidents,) and two hundred and sixty-five other officers; 
killed or wounded four thousand of all ranks — besides 
entire corps dispersed and dissolved ; — captured thirty- 
seven pieces of ordnance — more than trebling our siege 
train and field batteries — with a large number of small 
arms, a full supply of ammunition of every kind, &c., &c. 

These great results have overwhelmed the enemy. 

Our loss amounts to one thousand and fifty-three ; — 
killed, one hundred and thirty-nine, including sixteen 
officers; wounded, eight hundred and seventy-six, with 
sixty officers. 

After so many victories, we might, with but little 
additional loss, have occupied the capital the same 
evening. But Mr. Trist, commissioner, &c., as well as 
myself, had been admonished by the best friends of 
peace — intelligent neutrals and some American resi- 
dents — against precipitation — lest, by wantonly driving 
16 



182 THE WAR. 



Arraistice. 



away the government and others — dishonoured — we 
might scatter the elements of peace, excite a spirit of 
national desperation, and thus indefinitely postpone the 
hope of accommodation. Deeply impressed with this 
danger, and remembering our mission — to conquer a 
peace — the army very cheerfully sacrificed to patriotism 
— to the great wish and want of our country — the eclat 
that would have followed an entrance — sword in hand — 
into a great capital. Willing to leave something to this 
republic — of no immediate value to us — on which to 
rest her pride, and to recover temper — I halted our 
victorious corps at the gates of the city, (at least for a 
time,) and have them now cantoned in the neighbour- 
ing villages, where they are well sheltered and supplied 
with all necessaries. 

On the morning of the 21st, being about to take up 
battering or assaulting positions, to authorize me to 
summon the city to surrender, or to sign an armistice 
with a pledge to enter at once into negotiations for a 
peace — a mission came out to propose a truce. Reject- 
ing its forms, I despatched my contemplated note to 
President Santa Anna — omitting the summons. The 
22d, commissioners were appointed by the commanders 
of the two armies ; the armistice was signed the 23d, 
and ratifications exchanged the 24th. 

Negotiations were actively continued with, as was 
understood, some prospect of a successful result up to 
the 2d inst., when our commissioner handed in his ulti- 
matum^ (on boundaries,) and the negotiators adjourned to 
meet on the 6th. 

Some infractions of the truce, in respect to our sup- 
plies from the city, were earlier committed, followed by 



THE WAR. 185 



Violation of the armistice hy Santa Anna. 



apologies on the part of the enemy. Those vexations I 
was willing to put down to the imbecility of the govern- 
ment, and waived pointed demands of reparation while 
any hope remained of a satisfactory termination of the 
war. But on the 5th, and more fully on the 6th, I 
learned that as soon as the ultimatum had been con- 
sidered in a grand council of ministers and others, 
President Santa Anna, on the 4th or 5th, without giving 
me the slightest notice, actively recommenced strength- 
ening the military defenses of the city, in gross violation 
of the third article of the armistice. 

On that information which has since received the 
fullest verification, I addressed to him a note on the 6th. 
His reply dated the same day, received the next morn- 
ing, was absolutely and notoriously false, both in recrimi- 
nation and explanation. 

Being delayed by the terms of the armistice more 
than two weeks, we had now, late on the 7th, to begin 
to reconnoiter the different approaches to the cit}^, 
within our reach, before I could lay down any definitive 
plan of attack. 

The same afternoon a large body of the enemy was 
discovered hovering about the Moli7ios del Rey within a 
mile and a third of this village, where I am quartered 
with the general staff and Worth's division. 

It might have been supposed that an attack upon us 
was intended; but knowing the great value to the 
enemy of those mills {Molinos del Rey) containing a 
cannon foundry, with a large deposit of powder in Casa 
Mata near them ; and having heard, two days before, 
that many church bells had been sent out to be cast into 
guns — the enemy's movement was easily understood, 

16* 



186 THE WAR. 



Chapul tepee. 



and I resolved, at once, to drive him early the next 
morning ; to seize the powder and to destroy the 
foundry. 

A nother motive for this decision — leaving the general 
plan of attack upon the city for full reconnoissance — was, 
that we knew our recent captures had left the enemy 
not a fourth of the guns necessary to arm, all at the 
same time, the strong works at each of the eight city 
gates, and we could not cut the communication between 
the foundry and the capital without first taking the for- 
midable castle on the heights of Chapultepec which 
overlooked both and stood between. For this difficult 
operation we were not entirely ready, and moreover we 
might altogether neglect the castle, if, as we then hoped, 
our reconnoissances should prove that the distant southern 
approaches to the city were more eligible than this 
south-western approach. 

Hence the decision promptly taken, the execution of 
which was assigned to Brevet Major-General Worth, 
whose division was reinforced with Cadwalader's bri- 
gade, of Pillow's division, three squadrons of dragoons, 
under Major Sumner, and some heavy guns of the siege 
train under Captain Huger, of the ordnance, and Captain 
Drum of the 4th artillery — two officers of the highest 
merit." 

For the particulars of this decisive and brilliant re- 
sult. General Scott refers to General Worth's despatch, 
and the reader will find them in the life of that officer, 
in a subsequent part of this book. 

The enemy having several times reinforced his line, 
the action soon becoming much more general than 
I had expected, I called up from the distance of three 



THE WAR. 187 



Molinos del Rey. 



miles ; first, Major-General Pillow, with his remaining 
brigade, (Pierce's,) and next Riley's brigade of Twiggs's 
division — leaving his other brigade (Smith's) in obser- 
vation at San Angel. Those corps approached with 
zeal and rapidity ; but the battle was won just as Briga- 
dier-General Pierce reached the ground and had inter- 
posed his corps between Garland's brigade (Worth's 
division) and the retreating enemy. 

General Worth's report mentions, with just commen- 
dation, two of my volunteer aids — Major Kirby, pay- 
master, and Major Gaines of the Kentucky volunteers. 
I also had the valuable services, on the same field, of 
several other officers of my staff, general and personal : — 
Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock, acting inspector-general ; 
Captain R. E. Lee, engineer; Captain Irwin, chief 
quartermaster ; Captain Grayson, chief commissary ; 
Captain H. L. Scott, acting assistant adjutant-general ; 
Lieutenant Williams, aid-de-camp, and Lieutenant Lay, 
military secretary." 

" At the end of another series of arduous and brilliant 
operations, of more than forty-eight hours continuance, 
this glorious army hoisted, on the morning of the 14th 
of September, the colours of the United States on the 
walls of the national palace of Mexico. 

The victory of the 8th, at the Molinos del Rey, was 
followed by daring reconnoissances on the part of our 
distinguished engineers. Captain Lee, Lieutenants Beau- 
regard, Stevens, and Tower — Major Smith, senior, being 
sick, and Captain Mason, third in rank, wounded. Their 
operations were directed principally to the south — 
toward the gates of the Piedad, San Angel, (Nino Per- 
dido,) San Antonio, and the Passeo de la Viga. 



188 THE WAR. 



Survey of ttie southern gates. 



This city stands on a slight swell of ground, near the 
centre of an irregular basin, and is girdled with a ditch 
in its greater extent — a navigable canal of great breadth 
and depth — very difficult to bridge, in the presence of 
an enemy, and serving at once for drainage, custom- 
house purposes, and military defense — leaving eight 
intrenches or gates, over arches — each of which we 
found defended by a system of strong w^orks that seemed 
to require nothing but some men and guns to be im- 
pregnable. 

Outside and within the cross fires of those gates, we 
found to the south other obstacles but little less formid- 
able. All the approaches near the city are over ele- 
vated causeways, cut in many places (to oppose us) and 
flanked, on both sides, by ditches also of unusual di- 
mensions. — The numerous cross roads are flanked in 
like manner, having bridges at the intersections, recently 
broken. The meadows thus checked, are, moreover, in 
many spots, under water or marshy ; for, it will be re- 
membered, we were in the midst of the w^et season, 
though with less rain than usual, and we could not wait 
for the fall of the neighbouring lakes and the consequent 
drainage of the wet grounds at the edge of the city — 
the lowest in the whole basin. 

After a close personal survey of the southern gates, 
covered by Pillow's division and Riley's brigade of 
Twiggs's — with four times our numbers, concentrated in 
our immediate front — I determined, on the 11th, to 
avoid the net work of obstacles, and to seek, by a sud- 
den inversion, to the south-west and west, less unfavour- 
able approaches. 

To economize the lives of our gallant officers and 



THE WAR. 189 



Scott's stratagem.. 



men, as well as to insure success, it became indispen- 
sable that this resolution should be long masked from the 
enemy, and again that the new movement, when disco- 
vered, should be mistaken for a feint, and the old as 
indicating our true and ultimate point of attack. 

Accordingly, on the spot, the 11th, I ordered Quit- 
man's division from Coyoacan, to join Pillow hy day- 
light, before the southern gates, and then that the two 
major-generals, with their divisions, should, hy night, 
proceed (two miles) to join me, at Tacubaya, where I 
was quartered with Worth's division. Twiggs, with 
Riley's brigade and Captains Taylor's and Steptoe's 
field batteries — the latter twelve-pounders — was left in 
front of those gates — to manoeuver, to threaten, or to 
make false attacks, in order to occupy and deceive the 
enemy. Twiggs's other brigade (Smith's,) was left at 
supporting distance, in the rear, at San Angel, till the 
morning of the 13th, and also to support our general 
depot at Miscoaque. The stratagem against the south 
was admirably executed throughout the 12th and down 
to the afternoon of the 13th, when it was too late for 
the enemy to recover from the effects of his delusion. . 

The first step in the new movement was to carry Cha- 
pultepec, a natural and isolated mound, of great eleva- 
tion, strongly fortified at its base, on its acclivities and 
heights. Besides a numerous garrison, here w^as the 
military college of the republic, with a large number of 
sub-lieutenants and other students. Those works were 
within direct gun-shot of the village of Tacubaya, and 
until carried, we could not approach the city on the west 
without making a circuit too wide and too hazardous. 

In the course of the same night, (that of the 11th,) 



190 THE WAR. 



Battle of Chapultepec. 



heavy batteries, within easy ranges, were established. 
No. 1, on our right, under the command of Captain 
Drum, 4th artillery, (relieved late next day, for some 
hours, by Lieutenant Andrews, of the 3d,) and No. 2, 
commanded by Lieutenant Hagner, ordnance — both sup- 
ported by Quitman's division. Nos. 3 and 4, on the 
opposite side, supported by Pillow's division, were com- 
manded, the former by Captain Brooks and Lieutenant 
S. S. Anderson, 2d artillery, alternately, and the latter 
by Lieutenant Stone, ordnance. The batteries were 
traced by Captain Huger and Captain Lee, engineer, 
and constructed by them, with the able assistance of the 
young officers of those corps and the artillery. 

To prepare for an assault it was foreseen that the play 
of the batteries might run into the second day ; but re- 
cent captures had not only trebled our siege pieces, but 
also our ammunition, and we knew that we should 
greatly augment both by carrying the place. I was, 
therefore, in no haste in ordering an assault before the 
works were well crippled by our missiles. 

The bombardment and cannonade, under the direc- 
tion of Captain Huger, were commenced early in the 
morning of the 12th. Before nightfall, which necessa- 
rily stopped our batteries, we had perceived that a good 
impression had been made on the castle and its out- 
works, and that a large body of the enemy had remained 
outside towards the city, from an early hour, to avoid 
our fire, and to be at hand, on its cessation, in order to 
reinforce the garrison against an assault. The same out- 
side force was discovered the next morning after our bat- 
teries had reopened upon the castle, by which we again 
reduced its garrison to the minimum needed for the guns. 



THE WAR. 193 



Battle of Chapultepec. 



Pillow and Quitman had been in position since early 
in the night of the 11th. Major-General Worth was 
now ordered to hold his division in reserve, near the 
foundry, to support Pillow ; and Brigadier-General Smith, 
of Twiggs's division, had just arrived with his brigade, 
from Piedad, (two miles,) to support Quitman. Twiggs's 
guns, before the southern gates, again reminded us, as 
the day before, that he, with Riley's brigade, and Tay- 
lor's and Steptoe's batteries, was in activity, threaten- 
ing the southern gates, and there holding a great part 
of the Mexican army on the defensive. 

Worth's division furnished Pillow's attack with an 
assaulting party of some two hundred volunteer officers 
and men, under Captain McKenzie, of the 2d artillery, 
and Twiggs's division supplied a similar one, commanded 
by Captain Casey, 2d infantry to Quitman. Each of 
these little columns was furnished with scaling ladders. 

The signal I had appointed for the attack, was the 
momentary cessation of the fire on the part of our heavy 
batteries. About eight o'clock in the morning of the 
13th, judging that the time had arrived, by the effect 
of the missiles we had thrown, I sent an aid-de-camp to 
Pillow, and another to Quitman, with notice that the 
concerted signal was about to be given. Both columns 
now advanced with an alacrity that gave assurance of 
prompt success. The batteries, siezing opportunities,, 
threw shots and shells upon the enemy, over the heads of 
our men, with good effect, particularly at every attempt 
to reinforce the works from without, to meet our assault. 

Major-General Pillow's approach, on the west side, lay 
through an open grove, filled with sharp-shooters, who 
were speedily dislodged ; when, being up with the front 
N 17 



194 THE WAR. 



Battle of Chapultepec. 



of the attack, and emerging into the open space, at the 
foot of a rocky acclivity, that gallant leader was struck 
down by an agonizing wound. The immediate command 
devolved on Brigadier- General Cadwalader, in the 
absence of the senior brigadier (Pierce) of the same 
division — an invalid since the events of August 19. On 
a previous call of Pillow, Worth had just sent him a 
reinforcement — Colonel Clark's brigade. 

The broken acclivity was still to be ascended, and a 
strong redoubt, midway, to be carried, before reaching 
the castle on the heights. The advance of our brave 
men, led by brave officers, though necessarily slow, was 
unwavering, over rocks, chasms, and mines, and under 
the hottest fire of cannon and musketry. The redoubt 
now yielded to resistless valour, and the shouts that fol- 
lowed announced to the castle the fate that impended. 
The enemy were steadily driven from shelter to shelter. 
The retreat allowed not time to fire a single mine, with- 
out the certainty of blowing up friend and foe. Those 
who at a distance attempted to apply the matches to the 
long trains, were shot down by our men. There was 
death below as well as above ground. At length the 
ditch and wall of the main work were reached ; the 
scaling-ladders were brought up and planted by the 
storming parties ; some of the daring spirits first in the 
assault were cast down — killed or wounded ; but a 
lodgment was soon made ; streams of heroes followed ; 
all opposition was overcome, and several of our regi- 
mental colours flung out from the upper walls, amidst 
long continued shouts and cheers, which sent dismay 
into the capital. No scene could have been more ani- 
mating or glorious. 



THE WAR. 195 



Battle of Chapultepec. 



Major-General Quitman, nobly supported by Brigadier- 
Generals Shields and Smith, (P. F.,) his other officers 
and men, was up with the part assigned him. Simulta- 
neously with the movement on the west, he had gallantly 
approached the south-east of the same works over a 
causeway with cuts and batteries, and defended by an 
army strongly posted outside, to the east of the works. 
Those formidable obstacles Quitman had to face, with 
but little shelter for his troops or space for manoeuvering. 
Deep ditches, flanking the causeway, made it difficult 
to cross on either side into the adjoining meadows, and 
these again were intersected by other ditches. Smith 
and his brigade had been early thrown out to make a 
sweep to the right, in order to present a front against 
the enemy's line, (outside,) and to turn two intervening 
batteries near the foot of Chapultepec. This movement 
was also intended to support Quitman's storming parties, 
both on the causeway. The first of these furnished by 
Twiggs's division, was commanded in succession by 
Captain Casey, 2d infantry, and Captain Paul, 7th in- 
fantry, after Casey had been severely wounded ; and 
the second, originally under the gallant Major Twiggs, 
marine corps, killed, and then Captain Miller, 2d Penn- 
sylvania volunteers. The storming party, now com- 
manded by Captain Paul, seconded by Captain Roberts 
of the rifles. Lieutenant Stewart, and others of the same 
regiment, Smith's brigade, carried the two batteries in 
the road, took some guns, wath many prisoners, and 
drove the enemy posted behind in support. The New 
York and South Carolina volunteers, (Shields's brigade,) 
and the 2d Pennsylvania volunteers, all on the left of 
Quitman's line, together with portions of his storming 



196 THE WAR. 



Battle of Gftiapultepec. 



parties, crossed the meadows in front, under a heavy 
fire and entered the outer inclosures of Chapultepec 
just in time to join in the final assault from the west. 

Those operations all occurred on the west, south-east, 
and heights of Chapultepec. To the north, and at the 
base of the mound, inaccessible on that side, the 11th 
infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert, the 14th, 
under Colonel Trousdale, and Captain Magruder's field 
battery, 1st artillery — one section advanced under Lieu- 
tenant Jackson — all of Pillow's division — had, at the 
same time, some spirited affairs against superior num- 
bers, driving the enemy from a battery in the road, and 
capturing a gun. In these, the officers and corps named 
gained merited praise. Colonel Trousdale, the com- 
mander, though twice wounded, continued on duty until 
the heights were carried. 

Early in the morning of the thirteenth, I repeated the 
orders of the night before to Major-General Worth, to 
be, with his division at hand, to support the movement 
of Major-General Pillow from our left. The latter seems 
soon to have called for that entire division, standing, 
momentarily in reserve, and Worth sent him Colonel 
Clarke's brigade. The call, if not unnecessary, was at 
least, from the circumstances, unknown to me at the 
time ; for soon observing that the very large body of 
the enemy, in the road in front of Major-General Quit- 
man's right, was receiving reinforcements from the city 
— less than a mile and a half to the east — I sent instruc- 
tions to Worth, on our opposite flank, to turn Chapul- 
tepec with his division, and to proceed, cautiously by 
the road at its northern base, in order, if not met by 
very superior numbers, to threaten or to attack, in rear, 



THE WAR. 197 



Capture of Chapultepec. 



that body of the enemy. The movement, it was also 
believed, could not fail to distract and to intimidate the 
enemy generally. 

Worth promptly advanced with his remaining brigade 
—Colonel Garland's — Lieutenant-Colonel C. F. Smith's 
light battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan's field battery 
— all of his division — and three squadrons of dragoons, 
under Major Sumner, which I had just ordered up to 
join in the movement. 

Having turned the forest on the west, and arriving 
opposite to the north centre of Chapultepec, Worth came 
up with the troops in the road under Colonel Trousdale, 
and aided by a flank movement of a part of Garland's 
brigade in taking the one gun breastwork, then under 
the fire of Lieutenant Jackson's section of Captain 
Magruder's field battery. Continuing to advance, this 
division passed Chapultepec, attacking the right of the 
enemy's line, resting on that road, about the moment 
of the general retreat consequent upon the capture of the 
formidable castle and its outposts. 

Arriving some minutes later, and mounting to the top 
of the castle, the whole field to the east lay plainly 
under my view. 

There are two routes from Chapultepec to the capital 
— the one on the right entering the same gate, Belen, 
with the road from the south via Pied ad ; and the other 
obliquing to the left, to intersect the Great Western, or 
San Cosme road, in a suburb outside of the gate of San 
Cosme. 

Each of these routes (an elevated causeway) presents 
a double roadway on the sides of an aqueduct of strong 
masonry, and great height, resting on open arches and 
17* 



198 THE WAR. 



riiglit of the Mexicans. 



massive pillars, which, together, afford fine points both 
for attack and defense. The sideways of both aqueducts 
are, moreover, defended by many strong breastworks at 
the gates, and before reaching them. As we had ex- 
pected, we found the four tracts unusually dry and solid 
for the season. 

Worth and Quitman were prompt in pursuing the 
retreating enemy — the former by the San Cosme aque- 
duct, and the latter along that of Belen. Each had now 
advanced some hundred yards. 

Deeming it all-important to profit by our successes, 
and the consequent dismay of the enemy, which could 
not be otherwise than general, I hastened to despatch 
from Chapultepec — first Clarke's brigade, and then Cad- 
walader's, to the support of Worth, and gave orders 
that the necessary heavy guns should follow. Pierce's 
brigade was, at the same time, sent to Quitman, and, in 
the course of the afternoon, I caused some additional 
siege pieces to be added to his train. Then, after 
designating the 15th infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel 
Howard — Morgan, the colonel, had been disabled by a 
wound at Churubusco — as the garrison of Chapultepec, 
and giving directions for the care of the prisoners of 
war, the captured ordnance and ordnance stores, I pro- 
ceeded to join the advance of Worth, within the suburb, 
and beyond the turn at the junction of the aqueduct 
with the great highway from the west to the gate of San 
Cosme. 

At this junction of roads, we first passed one of those 
formidable systems of city defenses, spoken of above, 
and it had not a gun! — a strong proof — 1, That the 
enemy had expected us to fail in the attack upon 



THE WAR. 193 



Street fight in the city of Mexico. 



Chapultepec, even if we meant any thing more than a 
feint ; 2, That, in either case, we designed, in his belief, 
to return and double our forces against the southern 
gates — a delusion kept up by the active demonstrations 
of Twiggs and the forces posted on that side ; and 3, 
That advancing rapidly from the reduction of Chapul- 
tepec, the enemy had not time to shift guns — our pre- 
vious captures had left him, comparatively, but few — 
from the southern gates. 

Within those disgarnished works, I found our troops 
engaged in a street fight against the enemy posted in 
gardens, at windows, and on house-tops — all flat, with 
parapets. Worth ordered forward the mountain how- 
itzers of Cadwalader's brigade, preceded by skirmishers 
and pioneers, with pick-axes and crow-bars, to force 
windows and doors, or to burrow through walls. The 
assailants were soon in an equality of position fatal to 
the enemy. By eight o'clock in the evening. Worth had 
carried two batteries in this suburb. According to ray 
instructions, he here posted guards and sentinels, and 
placed his troops under shelter for the night. There was 
but one more obstacle — the San Cosme gate (custom- 
house) between him and the great square in front of the 
cathedral and palace — the heart of the city ; and the 
barrier, it was known, could not by daylight, resist our 
siege guns thirty minutes. 

I had gone back to the foot of Chapultepec, the point 
from which the two aqueducts begin to diverge, some 
hours earlier, in order to be near that new depot, and in 
easy communication with Quitman and Twiggs as well 
as with Worth. 

From this point I ordered all detachments and strag- 



200 THE WAR. 



Quitman in tlie city of Mexico. 



glers to their respective corps then in advance ; sent to 
Quitman additional siege guns, ammunition, intrench- 
ing tools ; directed Twiggs's remaining brigade (Riley's) 
from Piedad to support Worth, and Captain Steptoe's 
field battery, also at Piedad, to rejoin Quitman's division. 

I had been, from the first, well aware that the western, 
or San Cosme, was the less difficult route to the centre 
and conquest of the capital; and, therefore, intended 
that Quitman should only manoeuver and threaten the 
Belen or south-western gate, in order to favour the main 
attack by Worth — ^knowing that the strong defenses at 
the Belen were directly under the guns of the much 
stronger fortress, called the citadel, just within. Both 
of these defenses of the enemy were also within easy 
supporting distance from the San Angel (or JVino Per- 
dido) and San Antonio gates. Hence the greatest sup- 
port, in numbers, given to Worth's movement as the 
main attack. 

Those views I repeatedly, in the course of the day, 
communicated to Major- General Quitman; but, being 
in hot pursuit — gallant himself, and supported by Briga- 
dier-Generals Shields and Smith — Shields badly wounded 
before Chapultepec, and refusing to retire — as well as by 
all the officers and men of the column — Quitman con- 
tinued to press forward, under flank and direct fires — 
carried an intermediate battery of two guns, and then 
the gate, before two o'clock in the afternoon, but not 
without proportionate loss, increased by his steady main- 
tenance of that position. 

Quitman, within the city — adding several new de- 
fenses to the position he had won, and sheltering his 
corps as well as practicable — now awaited the return of 



THE WAR. 201 



Deputation to General Scott. 



daylight under the guns of the formidable citadel, yet to 
be subdued. 

At about four o'clock next morning, (September 14,) 
a deputation of the ayuntamiento (city council) waited 
upon me to report that the federal government and the 
army of Mexico had fled from the capital some three 
hours before, and to demand terms of capitulation in 
favour of the church, the citizens, and the municipal 
authorities. I promptly replied, that I would sign no 
capitulation; that the city had been virtually in our 
possession from the time of the lodgments effected by 
Worth and Quitman the day before ; that I regretted the 
silent escape of the Mexican army ; that I should levy 
upon the city a moderate contribution, for special pur- 
poses ; and that the American army should come under 
no terms, not 5e//'-imposed — such only as its own honour, 
the dignity of the United States, and the spirit of the 
age, should, in my opinion, imperiously demand and 
impose. 

At the termination of the interview with the city depu- 
tation, I communicated, about daylight, orders to Worth 
and Quitman to advance slowly and cautiously, (to 
guard against treachery,) towards the heart of the city, 
and to occupy its stronger and more commanding points. 
Quitman proceeded to the great plaza or square, planted 
guards, and hoisted the colours of the United States on 
the national palace — containing the halls of Congress 
and executive departments of federal Mexico. In this 
grateful service, Quitman might have been anticipated 
by Worth, but for my express orders, halting the latter 
at the head of the Alameda, (a green park,) within three 
squares of that goal of general ambition. The capital, 



202 THE WAR. 



Firing frora the houses. 



however, was not taken by any one or two corps, but 
by the talent, the science, the gallantry, the prowess of 
this entire army. In the glorious conquest, all had con- 
tributed — early and powerfully — the killed, the wound- 
ed, and the fit for duty — at Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, 
Contreras, San Augustin, Churubusco, (three battles,) 
the Molinos del Rey, and Chapultepec — as much as 
those who fought at the gates of Belen and San Cosme. 

Soon after we had entered, and were in the act of 
occupying the city, a fire was opened upon us from the 
flat roofs of the houses, from windows and corners of 
streets, by some two thousand convicts liberated the 
night before by the flying government — ^joined by, per- 
haps, as many Mexican soldiers, who had disbanded 
themselves and thrown off* their uniforms. This unlawful 
war lasted more than twenty-four hours, in spite of the 
exertions of the municipal authorities, and was not put 
down till we had lost many men, including several officers 
killed or wounded, and had punished the miscreants. 
Their objects were to gratify national hatred ; and in 
the general alarm and confusion, to plunder the wealthy 
inhabitants — particularly the deserted houses. But fa- 
milies are now generally returning ; business of every 
kind has been resumed, and the city is already tranquil 
and cheerful, under the admirable conduct (with excep- 
tions very few and trifling) of our gallant troops. 

I recapitulate our losses since we arrived in the basin 
of Mexico. 

August 19, 20. — Killed, one hundred and thirty- 
seven, including fourteen officers. Wounded, eight 
hundred and seventy-seven, including sixty-two officers. 



THE WAR. 203 



Trophies. 



Missing, (probably killed,) thirty-eight rank and file. 
Total, one thousand and fifty-two. 

September 8. — Killed, one hundred and sixteen, in- 
cluding nine officers. Wounded, six hundred and fifty- 
five, including forty-nine officers. Missing, eighteen 
rank and file. Total, seven hundred and eighty-nine. 

September 12, 13, 14. — Killed, one hundred and 
thirty, including ten officers. Wounded, seven hundred 
and three, including sixty-eight officers. Missing, twenty- 
nine rank and file. Total, eight hundred and sixty-two. 

Grand total of losses, two thousand seven hundred and 
three, including three hundred and eighty-three officers. 

On the other hand, this small force has beaten on the 
same occasions, in view of their capital, the whole Mex- 
ican army, of (at the beginning) thirty odd thousand 
men — posted always in chosen positions, behind in- 
trenchments, or more formidable defenses of nature and 
art; killed or wounded, of that number, more than 
seven thousand officers and men ; taking three thousand 
seven hundred and thirty prisoners ; including thirteen 
generals, of whom three had been presidents of this 
republic ; captured more than twenty colours and stand- 
ards, seventy-five pieces of ordnance, besides fifty-seven 
wall-pieces, twenty thousand small arms, an immense 
quantity of shot, shells, powder, &c., &c. 

Of that enemy once so formidable in numbers, ap- 
pointments, artillery, &c., twenty odd thousand have 
disbanded themselves in despair, leaving, as is known, 
not more than three fragments — the largest about two 
thousand five hundred — now wandering in different 
directions, without magazines, or a military chest, and 
living at free quarters upon their own people. 



204 THE WAR. 



Scheme of tlie priesthood. 



In the national palace of Mexico opposite the entrance 
of the great reception room, there hung a portrait of 
the celebrated Mexican, Iturbide. Rumaging about the 
palace, some of the officers found, in a neglected room, 
a portrait of Washington. Amid the greatest enthusiasm, 
the frowning representative of Mexican greatness gave 
place to the mild benevolent countenance of the great 
American hero ; the proper sequel to the overthrow of the 
forces of the Mexican nation by the army of the North 
American republic. From the taking of the capital to the 
present, all has remained quiet and tranquil. The priest- 
hood attempted to carry out a plan for the annoyance of 
the American army, refusing to open the churches, and 
in other modes cherishing, the popular ill will. But the 
prompt and energetic orders of General Scott brought a 
sudden termination upon their plans. Signor Pena y 
Pena, who had been called to the administration of the 
government of Mexico, issued an address marked by the 
moderation of its views, and his secretary of state fol- 
lowed with one similar in tenor. 

In October, Senor Rosa, the secretary of state, in the 
name of the president called a meeting of the Mexican 
Congress, to assemble at Queretaro in November, the 
results of whose deliberations have as yet been unim- 
portant. During the same month, the attention of the 
government was directed towards General Paredes, who 
had effected an entrance into the country in disguise, 
and issued a very florid address to his countrymen. The 
government refused his proffered services, and directed 
harsh measures to be taken against him. 

Santa Anna, though driven from the capital, continued 
his indefatigable efforts in behalf of his ungrateful 



THE WAR. 205 



Death of Walker. 



country. With nearly eight thousand men he advanced 
upon and took Puebla, and on the 25th of September, 
laid siege to the American works near that city, com- 
manded by Colonel Childs. A siege of twenty-eight 
days failed to induce the gallant colonel and his starved 
troops to depart from their intention to make a success- 
ful defense. A cannonading was briskly maintained on 
both sides for three days. On the 1st of October, Santa 
Anna sallied out from the city with a large force, in order 
to attack General Lane, who was on his way up from 
Vera Cruz with a large train, and a force of about three 
thousand men. On the evening of the 8th of October, 
information was received that Santa Anna, with four 
thousand men and several pieces of artillery, was prepared 
to dispute their passage at the pass of Pinal Venta del 
Final. The army prepared for a battle, when it was 
learned that Santa Anna himself was at the town of 
Huamantla, some ten miles distant, and General Lane 
determined to advance upon that town with a portion 
of his forces, Captain Walker leading the van with a 
force of two hundred cavalry. Santa Anna had left that 
morning for the pass with four thousand men, leaving 
his artillery with a detachment of five hundred to fol- 
low. Captain Walker dashed into the town, defeated 
this detachment, captured four guns, and supposing the 
fight to be ended, suffered his men to disperse through 
the town in search of guns and ammunition. With 
some fifty men he remained in the plaza, where he sud- 
denly found himself fiercely attacked by the enemy's 
cavalry, who had seen his advance and returned to save 
their artillery. In the struggle which followed, the gal- 
lant captain was slain. The arrival of the infantry soon 

18 



206 THE WAR. 



Santa Anna superseded. 



put an end to the battle ; the enemy withdrawing from 
the town. The Mexicans lost two of the four cannon, 
and some thirty wagon loads of ammunition. Santa 
Anna thus out-generaled, abandoned his intention of 
contesting the pass of Pinal. But for this manoeuver the 
Americans must have suffered severely in this narrow 
and difficult pass. 

After relieving the garrison at Puebla, which city was 
evacuated by General Rea, General Lane advanced 
upon Atlisco, which he captured after gaining a victory 
over General Rea, who contested the field with unusual 
spirit, having suffered a loss of more than five hundred 
killed and wounded. 

General Santa Anna, after these reverses, fled with a 
small band to Tehuacan, where even these troops be- 
came mutinous for want of pay, and soon deserted him. 
The president then deposed him from the head of the 
army and appointed General Rincon to succeed him. In 
grief and indignation at this treatment from the executive 
whom he himself had just called to power, Santa Anna 
issued an address on the 16th of October to the army, 
and another on the 22d of October to the people of 
Mexico, both more remarkable than any of his papers 
for its lofty tone, for the appeal to his enemies to testify 
concerning his conduct, and the assertion that his ene- 
mies are in favour of peace. 

We now turn our attention to the operations of the 
navy, which had been engaged under Commodores 
Conner and Perry in the difficult service of blockading 
the rocky coast of Mexico. On the 8th of August, and 
on the 15th of October, 1846, two unsuccessful attempts 
were made by Commodore Conner to capture the town 



IIPIIIII 



naf:, 




THE WAR. 209 



Loss of the Tr\ixtun- 



of Alvarado, the high seas and strong currents rendering 
it unadvisable to land troops on the rocky coast, and the 
bar preventing some of the vessels from entering the 
river. The people made a considerable show of de- 
fense, for which the government rewarded them in a 
peculiarly Mexican manner hy brevetting their town a 
city ! 

During the summer, almost the only events that oc- 
curred to break the monotony of a blockade were the 
accidents that arose from the dangerous character of the 
coast. On the 15th of August, 1846, the brig Truxtun 
ran aground on the bar off Tuspan, while standing in 
shore to cover her boats on an expedition for fresh water 
and provisions. Every effort was made to lighten her 
without success. A boat was sent off to the squadron 
for aid, and a Mexican vessel was captured in the hope 
that the crew might be taken off, but the sea ran so high 
as to render this impossible, and the small boat's crew 
and the crew of the prize reached the squadron after 
several days of danger and privation. The Princeton 
was sent to the relief of the stranded brig, but the crew 
had gone on shore and surrendered as prisoners before 
her arrival, and they could only burn and blow her up. 
Every thing of value was gone except an iron cable 
attached to an anchor overboard. In April, 1847, the 
town of Tuspan was, by an expedition under Commodore 
Perry, so well planned that failure was impossible. 
Three forts, the guns of which raked the river and de- 
fended the approach to the town, were silenced in suc- 
cession, and each of them was taken possession of by 
the seamen and marines under their immediate officers 
who landed in boats along the shores of the river, and 
O 18* 



210 THE WAR. 



Expedition against Tobasco. 



planted the soul- stirring flag of our Union upon the 
battlements. On reaching the town, Commodore Perry- 
proceeded to the shore with his staff and took possession 
of the city without opposition, Senor General Don Mar- 
tin P. de Cos, commandant of the place, ^* having," to 
use the words of a humorous letter writer, " struck out 
for country quarters some time before the fight with the 
forts was done. A disembarkation of the marines was 
made, and the stars and stripes saluted by a stalwart 
band of sea soldiers with two brass field-pieces in the 
plaza. Commodore Perry established his head-quarters 
in the city. From the forts and one of the public stores 
were taken guns, sails, rigging, &c., that had belonged 
to the unfortunate brig Truxtun, and an expedition sent 
up the river returned with her boats, besides schooners, 
launches, and boats captured from the enemy. 

On the 16th of October, 1846, Commodore Perry 
sailed from the squadron to attack the town of Tobasco. 
On the 24th the bar was crossed, and Frontera, the town 
at the mouth of the river, captured with all the vessels in 
port. The expedition then moved up the river to 
Tobasco, which Commodore Perry consented to spare 
from the horrors of a bombardment on the representation 
of foreigners, that the military had no interest in the 
place. But while the flag of truce was flying from the 
mastheads, in agreement with the arrangements made, and 
by which the commodore was to retire unmolested, one 
of the prize schooners got aground below the town, and 
a brisk fire of musketry was immediately opened upon her 
from the shore. Lieutenant Morris being sent from the 
flag ship to the assistance of Lieutenant Parker, who 
commanded the stranded vessel, was also fired upon 



THE WAR. 213 



Taking of Tampico. 



and mortally wounded. The vessel however was got 
off, and a severe vengeance taken upon the town before 
the fleet departed. At the close of the summer of 1847, 
Commodore Perry found it necessary to pay another 
visit to Tobasco, to show the people there that they 
were not forgotten. 

On the 12th of November, 1846, Commodore Conner 
sailed for Tampico, which surrendered on the 14th 
without resistance. The guns belonging to the enemy 
at Tampico had been carried to Panuco, a town of some 
five thousand inhabitants, eighty miles inland, on the 
Panuco river. Commander Tatnall was sent thither 
with the steamer Spitfire and the schooner Petrel, landed 
a hundred men, and demanded the surrender of the 
town which was complied with ; the inhabitants being 
extremely polite and communicative, informing the com- 
mander where all the military stores were placed. The 
result of the expedition was the capture of eleven guns, 
which were on their way to San Luis Potosi for the use 
of the Mexican forces, and the destruction by burning 
and sinking in the river, of army equipments to the 
amount of thirty thousand dollars. 

After the capture of Vera Cruz, Commodore Perry 
and General Scott planned an attack upon Alvarado, 
which had twice repulsed the forces of the navy. While 
the formidable array which was to accomplish this ob- 
ject was preparing, Lieutenant Hunter was despatched 
in the little steamer Scourge to blockade the town. He 
sailed thither, opened a fire upon the place with round 
shot and shell, stood off and on during the night, and 
in the morning received the surrender of the town, the 
garrison frightened out of their propriety, having run 



214 THE WAR. 



Burning. of the Creole. 



away in the night. The city-by-brevet being captured, 
the American flag was hoisted and saluted with twenty- 
one guns, and the little steamer proceeded up the river 
in pursuit of several vessels which were hastening up the 
river laden with arms, ammunition, and public property. 
Four schooners were captured, one of which was burned, 
another abandoned as worthless, and the two others 
carried away as prizes. The city of Tlacotalpam, con- 
taining seven thousand inhabitants, w^as summoned to 
surrender within half an hour, and the demand was 
complied with. The higher authorities of the navy put 
a grave face upon this comical achievement, and Lieu- 
tenant Hunter was court-martialed, found guilty of 
disobedience of orders, and sentenced to be publicly 
reprimanded. 

The reprimand was worded with much severity ; but 
the conduct of the lieutenant seems to have been gene- 
rally approved by his countrymen, and the government 
gave him the command of the United States schooner 
Taney, destined for a cruise in the Mediterranean. 

One of the most daring achievements of the war, 
which was followed closely by one of its most lament- 
able occurrences we have omitted to notice. We close 
our account of the naval operation with a notice of these 
incidents. 

On the 20th of November, 1846, Lieutenant Parker, 
with Midshipmen Rodgers and Hynson, and a crew of 
six men, rowed into the harbour of Vera Cruz in a small 
boat, Jnd burned the Mexican barque Creole, anchored 
under the guns of the castle of San Juan de Ulloa. 
These officers belonged to the beautiful brig Somers, 
and had performed this skilful and daring feat to sig- 



THE WAR. 217 



Kearny's raarch. for New Mexico. 



nalize themselves whilst the other vessels of the squadron 
were on the expedition to Tampico. The gallantry of 
the crew of the Somers was more fully exemplified, 
however, on the occasion of the loss by shipwreck of 
that vessel. While endeavouring to intercept a sail that 
had hove in sight, a squall from the north struck her and 
threw her on her beam ends, and in a few minutes she 
filled and sunk. Midshipmen Clemson and Hynson, 
with thirty-nine of the crew, lost their lives ; the others 
were picked up by the crews of the English, French, 
and Spanish men-of-war lying near by 



We now turn our attention to the conquest of New 
Mexico. 

In June, 1846, a military force of three hundred 
United States dragoons, and three thousand Missouri 
volunteers, was concentrated at Fort Leavenworth, on 
the Missouri river, under General Stephen W. Kearny, 
destined for the subjugation of New Mexico. General 
Kearny took up the line of march for Santa Fe, eight 
hundred and forty miles distant, on the 22d of June, 
and on the l8th of August took possession of the city 
with the principal division of his forces. He issued, on 
the 22d, a proclamation calling on the people who had 
left their houses to return, and promising to protect all 
who should remain quiet and peaceable. Five days 
afterwards he completed the organization of a free 
government, appointed Charles Bent governor, and fixed 
a code of municipal laws. On the 25th of September 
he set out from Santa Fe, upon the route for Upper Cali- 
fornia, with the dragoons under Major Sumner, and two 
mountain howitzers. Colonel Doniphan was left in 

19 



218 THE WAR. 



Murder of Governor Bent and others. 



command at Santa Fe, Colonel Price with the second 
division of the forces having not yet arrived. 

At Albuquerque, General Kearny received such in- 
formation from California, as induced him to send back 
two hundred of the dragoons, leaving orders for the 
Mormon battalion which formed part of his forces, to 
follow in his trail. From La Joya, two hundred miles 
below Santa Fe, on the Rio Grande, he sent an order 
to Colonel Doniphan to make a campaign against the 
Narajo Indians, who inhabited the country between the 
Rio Grande and the Colorado of the West. Colonel 
Doniphan was employed on this successful expedition 
until the 14th of December. 

Leaving Colonel Price in command at Santa Fe, 
Colonel Doniphan again took up the line of march, on 
the 17th of December, with his own regiment and 
a command under Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell. The 
departure of this force, and the Mormon battalion, left 
Colonel Price about fifteen hundred men. About the 
time of Colonel Doniphan's departure a revolution was 
concocted by several of the citizens of the province, 
which, however, was discovered and apparently sup- 
pressed. Nearly all the most influential persons in the 
vicinity of Santa Fe were concerned in it. On the 
nineteenth of January, Governor Bent, with five others, 
was murdered at Hernando de Taos, seven more at the 
Arroya Honda, and two at the Rio Colorado. It ap- 
peared to be the object of the insurrectionists to put to 
death every American, and every Mexican, who had 
taken office under the new government. The insur- 
gents having gathered in considerable force, a battle 
was fought on the 24th of January, at Canada, which 



THE WAR. 219 



Battle of Pueblo de Taos. 



they commenced by an attack on Colonel Price, who 
repulsed them. 

On the 29th, the enemy were discovered to the num- 
ber of six or seven hundred, occupying a very strong 
position on the mountains at either side of the pass 
which leads to Embudo, and which was only wide 
enough to admit of the passage of three men marching 
abreast. Captain Burgwin with one hundred and eighty 
men, rank and file, attacked them, ascended the hills 
and forced them to fly with a heavy loss. They retreated 
over the steep and rugged sides of the mountains with a 
speed that defied pursuit. Embudo was then surrendered. 
Marching through snow, and beating it down into a 
road for artillery, on the 3d, the army reached the city 
of Pueblo de Taos, which was found to be admirably 
fortified. On the 4th, it was attacked by our gallant 
little army at nine o'clock in the morning, and the battle 
raged with great fierceness until night. The Americans 
at that time had made themselves masters of a part of 
the town, and at daybreak next morning the enemy 
sued for peace. It was granted on condition of the 
delivery of Tomas, one of the principal conspirators, 
who was shot. The other leaders met a similar fate. 

Having defeated the enemy wherever they were to 
be found and thereby crushed the revolution. Colonel 
Price found himself again quietly established in the 
government of New Mexico. He had in the three battles, 
killed two hundred and six of the enemy, and wounded 
a much larger number, with the loss of only eight 
killed, and fifty-two wounded on his own side, and had 
exhibited a degree of vigilance and gallantry calculated 
to inspire the people with awe and respect. 



220 THE WAR. 



Battle of Sacramento. 



Colonel Doniphan, on the march for El Paso del Norte, 
was attacked on Christmas day, at Brazito, by a Mexi- 
can force of eleven hundred men. The American force 
engaged numbered four hundred and fifty. The battle 
was decided in forty minutes, by the flight of the enemy, 
leaving sixty-three killed, one hundred and fifty wound- 
ed, and one howitzer. On the 29th, the city of El Paso 
was taken without opposition. Leaving El Paso on the 
8th of February, the army marched on the city of Chi- 
huahua. At the pass of the Sacramento, the enemy 
was discovered in great force : twelve hundred cavalry 
and two thousand seven hundred and twenty infantry, 
artillerists, and rancheros, with ten pieces of artillery. 
Colonel Doniphan commanded nine hundred and twen- 
ty-four effective men, who were obliged to protect a 
train of three hundred and fifteen traders' wagons, be- 
sides the regular army train. The enemy's infantry 
were securely posted behind a series of twenty-seven 
redoubts. While the two twelve-pound howitzers un- 
limbered within fifty yards of the enemy, and supported 
by the cavalry, poured destruction into his ranks, the 
infantry and riflemen charged the intrenchments with 
the utmost coolness and rapidity, delivering a deadly 
fire, and then clearing the redoubts with their sabres. 
The enemy fled over the mountains in great confusion, 
losing his entire artillery, ten wagons, masses of pro- 
visions, three hundred killed, and as many wounded. 
The Americans lost the incredibly small number of one 
man killed, and eight wounded, one of whom after- 
wards died. This victory was gained on the 28th of 
February. On the 1st of March formal possession was 
taken of Chihuahua. On the 23d of April, Colonel 



THE WAR. 221 



Doniphan's return to the United States. 



Doniphan received orders from General Wool to march 
to Saltillo with his command. He reached that place 
on the 23d of May, having taken eight or ten Mexican 
cities on the route. On the 27th, he reached Monterey, 
where his command was reviewed by General Taylor. 
The account of the battle of Sacramento given by Colo- 
nel Doniphan to General Taylor is very amusing. We 
extract it from Frank Edwards's new w^ork, ^* A Campaign 
with Colonel Doniphan." 

*^ While we were at Walnut Springs, General Tay- 
lor addressed Colonel Doniphan thus : — By-the-by, Colo- 
nel, every one is talking of your charge at Sacramento. 
I understand it was a brilliant affair. I wish you would 
give me a description of it, and of your manoeuvers." 
**MancEUvers be hanged," returned Doniphan, and 
added, ** I don't know any thing about the charge, ex- 
cept that my boys kept coming to me to let them charge, 
but I would not permit them ; for I was afraid they 
would be all cut to pieces. At last I saw a favourable 
moment and told them they might go — they were off 
like a shot — and that's all I know about it." 

From Monterey Colonel Doniphan marched to the 
Brazos, and there took passage to New Orleans, the term 
of service of his troops having expired. 

In the spring of 1846, Captain, now Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel John C. Fremont was sent with sixty-one men in 
the service of the United States topographical corps to 
make an exploration of Upper California. He found 
soon after his entrance into that territory, that its go- 
vernor, General Castro, was preparing to attack him. 
He promptly assumed the initiative, captured thirteen 
men and two hundred horses on the 11th of June, and 



222 THE WAR. 



Kearny reconquets tlie City of the Angels. 



on the 15th took possession of the Sanoma Pass, con- 
taining nine cannon, two hundred and fifty muskets, 
and a small garrison. Having marched toward the 
Sacramento river, he learned that General Castro was 
about to attack the garrison he had left at Sanoma, and 
hurried back with ninety riflemen raised among the 
American settlers in California, and dispersed the ad- 
vance guard of General Castro, w^ho thereupon retired 
to Santa Clara. Meanwhile Commodore Sloat had 
taken the sea-port of Monterey, on the Pacific, and was 
prepared to act in conjunction with Fremont against 
Castro. On the 12th of August, a body of riflemen 
under Fremont and Stockton, Sloat's successor, took 
possession of the City of Angels, and Stockton appointed 
Fremont governor. 

On the 11th of December, General Kearny reached 
the city of San Diego, in California, having gained a 
victory five days previously at San Pasqual, after a 
severe conflict, in which the general himself, with many 
of his officers and men were wounded, and two captains, 
one lieutenant, and fourteen others killed. On the 8th 
of January, he fought another battle with the enemy, on 
his march to regain possession of the City of the Angels, 
which had been retaken by the Mexicans. He was 
victorious, and the city was taken, while Fremont on the 
march thither with four hundred volunteers from the 
Sacramento, met the retreating enemy, who capitulated, 
laying down their arms. These operations completed 
the conquest of California. Want of more active em- 
ployment, probably, led to difficulties between Commo- 
dore Stockton, General Kearny, and Lieutenant-Colonel 
Fremont, which have recently come to be adjusted by a 
court-martial at Washington. 




Major-General Taylor. 




GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR. 

Omitting genealogical de- 
tails, we come at once to 
the fact that Major- General 
Zachary Taylor, the third son 
of Colonel Richard Taylor, 
was born in Orange county, 
' Virginia, on the 24th of No- 
vember, 1784. In the suc- 
ceeding summer Colonel Tay- 
lor emigrated to Kentucky, 
then just beginning to be settled, and his children from 
their earliest years were inured to the hardships and 
perils of frontier life. His first military lessons are said 
to have been from a man named Whetsel, who loaded 
p 225 




.^i:^^ 



226 THE WARRIORS. 

Command^ Fort Harrison. 

his rifle while running and successively killed four 
Indians, who were pursuing him. Zachary Taylor was 
enrolled as a volunteer in one of the companies formed to 
oppose any scheme that might be concocted by Aaron 
Burr, during his suspicious sojourn in the west. In May, 
1808, he received a commission as first lieutenant in the 
7th regiment of United States infantry, the vacancy he was 
appointed to fill having been made by the death of his 
brother. He was ordered to report himself to General 
Wilkinson at New Orleans, where he was taken with 
the yellow fever, and recovered with a constitution so 
much shattered as to compel his temporary retirement 
from active service. 

General Harrison having been ordered to march into 
the Indian country, erected a block-house and stockade 
on the Wabash, which afterwards was called Fort Har- 
rison. Lieutenant Taylor was employed in the perilous 
duty of watching the movements of the hostile savages 
at this post, and performed it in such a manner as to 
be promoted to a captaincy in the beginning of 1812. 
He was then placed in command of Fort Harrison, and 
in September, 1812, made his memorable successful 
defense of that post, with a sickly garrison of fifty men, 
against a large body of Indians of Tecumseh's party. 
The attack was begun at midnight and the lower build- 
ing w^as set on fire by the enemy. The flames soon 
reached the store-room where a quantity of whisky 
took fire, and spread the conflagration rapidly. By great 
perseverence and presence of mind, however, the fire 
was stopped in the building w^here it commenced, and 
the garrison kept up a steady discharge of musketry 
upon the enemy, who continued the assault for seven 



ZACHARY TAYLOR. 227 

Defease of Fort Harrison. 

hours. They then retired, carrying off the horses and 
cattle. The danger to which the whisky thus exposed 
the gallant captain, of death by flames on one side, or 
savage arms on the other, was probably remembered 
when he issued stringent orders against those who dealt 
in that article on the Rio Grande. 

General Hopkins said of this achievement, in a letter 
to the governor of Kentucky, "the firm and almost un- 
paralleled defense of Fort Harrison by Captain Zachary 
Taylor, has raised for him a fabric of character not to be 
effaced by eulogy." The government acknowledged it 
by conferring upon Taylor the rank of major by brevet. 

In October and November, Major Taylor, in com- 
mand of the Kentucky volunteers, and accompanied by 
General Hopkins, made two expeditions into the Indian 
country ; one against the Kickapoo villages on the 
Illinois river, the other against the settlements in the 
neighbourhood of Tippecanoe. No general engagement 
was fought, but they were attended with many hardships 
and privations, and proved of incalculable benefits to 
the territories of Indiana and Illinois. Several of the 
enemy's towns, and large quantities of provisions were 
destroyed. This demonstration of our strength inspired 
them with awe. In the winter of 1813 Major Taylor was 
appointed to superintend the recruiting service in Indiana 
and Illinois, in which he continued with industry and 
success until July. In that month he proceeded with 
a force of Rangers and Kentucky volunteers against the 
Massassinawa town near the source of the Wabash. 
The town was found abandoned, and meeting with no 
supply of provisions, the detachment was exposed during 
its return to the severest privations. 



228 THE WARRIORS. 



Ordered to erect a fort on Rock river. 



In the spring of 1814 he was ordered to St. Louis, to 
take command of the troops in the Missouri territory, 
and was actively employed on its frontiers until August. 
It was then ascertained that the British had taken Fort 
Shelby at Prairie du Chien, and were in great force on 
the Mississippi, with regulars and Indian allies. General 
Howard was furnished with ten companies of badly 
organized rangers, and about one hundred and twenty 
efficient regulars, to protect the frontier of Indiana, Illi- 
nois, and Missouri, and restrain the depredations of the 
various savage tribes. With these slender resources he 
had to protect the interior settlements, and furnish de- 
tachments to invade the Indian territory. Of these, that 
which ascended the Mississippi, under Major Taylor, 
was the most important in its objects and the most 
beneficial in its results. 

On the 22d of August, 1814, Major Taylor received 
orders to take command of three hundred and twenty 
men, principally militia, provided with boats and a few 
pieces of artillery, to ascend the Mississippi as high as 
the Indian village at the mouth of Rock river, to destroy 
the villages and corn, to disperse the Indians, and erect 
a fort on the most eligible site to command the river. 
The leading objects of the expedition were to restrain 
the Indians by the establishment of a military post in 
the heart of their country, and to arrest the descent of 
the British forces on St. Louis. The general closes his 
orders to the commanding officer thus: "should this 
command succeed in effecting all the objects for which 
it is intended the beneficial consequences to our country 
will be great. On the other hand, should this movement 
be stamped with disaster, no longer can even a hope be 



ZACHARY TAYLOR. 229 

Skirmish, with, the Indians. 

indulged of the frontiers maintaining their ground. But 
from the officer who commands and those commanded 
by him, the most flattering expectations may be in- 
dulged." Thus was the fate of the frontier a second time 
staked on the fortunes of the defender of Fort Harrison. 

In pursuance of his orders, Major Taylor proceeded to 
the mouth of Rock river, against a rapid current and 
amid the dangers of a lurking enemy, five hundred miles 
above the highest settlement or post on the Mississippi. 
Contrary to his expectations, and those of the general, he 
found a detachment of British troops, well supplied with 
artillery, and an immense body of Indians in possession 
of the place. After skirmishing with the Indians, and 
being sometime cannonaded by the British, without a 
possibility of returning their fire with effect, he dropped 
down to the rapid Desmoines, and having landed his 
forces, secured his boats, and fortified- his camp, and 
commenced a fort so situated as to command the Mis- 
sissippi and the mouth of the Desmoines. The erection 
of this fort in the face of the enemy, and at so great a 
distance from the source of supply, was attended with 
peculiar hazard, and almost incredible privation and 
toil. But the judgment, resolution, and skill of the 
commander, seconded by his animating example, sur- 
mounted every obstacle, enabled him to complete his 
important labour and to realize the most sanguine ex- 
pectations of his superior. 

The death of General Howard in October, called 
Major Taylor to St. Louis. In November he accom- 
panied Colonel Russell several hundred miles up the 
Missouri, to secure a small settlement on that river, left 
much exposed to Indian depredations. In December 
20 



230 THE WARRIORS. 



His personal appearance and character. 



he was again ordered to Vincennes to take command of 
the troops in Indiana, where he remained until the con- 
clusion of peace. 

"When we look back," says Mr. Breckenridge, in a 
biographical sketch of General Taylor, written thirty 
years since ; " when we look back on the many import- 
ant services rendered by this officer to his country during 
the late war ; when we reflect on the peculiar perils and 
hardships to which those services must have perpetually 
exposed him, performing as he did, in one year, marches 
in the territories of Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, 
amounting to more than three thousand miles, and find 
no solitary instance in which the extent of his achieve- 
ments did not exceed the scanty measure of his means ; 
we cannot restrain the expression of our regret at his 
detention from those glorious fields of civilized combat, 
where his genius might have borne him to nobler enter- 
prise, and his valour displayed itself on a more conspicu- 
ous theatre. ***** 

^^ With a frame fitted for the most active and hardy 
enterprise, an ardent spirit, a sanguine temper, and an 
invincible courage, gifted with a rapid discernment, a 
discriminating judgment, and a deep knowledge of man- 
kind, and possessing a heart susceptible of the most 
generous impulses of humanity, we regard Major Taylor 
as an officer of peculiar promise, and hazard, we think, 
but little in the prediction that, in the event of a war at 
no distant period, between the United States and Eng- 
land or Spain, riding on the tide of military glory, he 
will find his true level at the head of the army." 

The reduction of the army list on the conclusion of 
tne war, led to the change of Major Taylor's rank to that 



ZACHARY TAYLOR. 231 



Anecdote. 



of a captain. He resigned in consequence, but in a year 
he was restored to the service and his former rank by 
President Madison. He was employed in the monoto- 
nous life of a soldier in time of peace until he became 
engaged in the Black Hawk war in 1832. He then 
held the rank of colonel, and was detached by General 
Atkinson to pursue the Indians after they had fled over 
the Wisconsin. He met them at a place called the Bad 
Axe, and, though they fought with the energy of despair, 
totally defeated them. The betrayal of Black Hawk 
shortly afterwards put an end to this war. An anecdote 
related of his conduct during this war by a writer in the 
" Literary World," gives an amusing example of his 
decision of character. He states that ** while pursuing 
Black Hawk with a mixed force of volunteers and regu- 
lars, he found himself approaching Rock river, then 
said to be the north-western boundary of Illinois. The 
volunteers, as Taylor was informed, would refuse to 
cross the stream. They were militia, they said, called 
out for the defense of the state, and it was unconstitu- 
tional to order them to march beyond its frontier into 
the Indian country. Taylor thereupon halted his com- 
mand and encamped within the acknowledged boun- 
daries of Illinois. He would not, as the relator of the 
story said, budge an inch farther without orders. He 
had already driven Black Hawk out of the state, but the 
question of crossing Rock river seemed hugely to 
trouble his ideas of integrity to the constitution on one 
side, and military expediency on the other. During the 
night, however, orders came, either from General Scott or 
General Atkinson, for him to follow up Black Hawk to 
the last. The quietness of the regular colonel had rather 



232 THE WARRIORS. 

Anecdote. 

encouraged the mutinous militia to bring their proceed- 
ings to a head. A sort of town meeting was called upon 
the prairie, and Taylor invited to attend. After listening 
some time quietly to the proceedings, it became Rough 
and Ready's turn to address the chair. * He had heard,' 
he said, ' with much pleasure the views which several 
speakers had expressed of the independence and dignity 
of each private American citizen. He felt that all gen- 
tlemen there present were his equals — in reality, he was 
persuaded that many of them would in a few years be 
his superiors, and perhaps in the capacity of members 
of Congress, arbiters of the fortunes and reputation of 
humble servants of the republic like himself. He ex- 
pected then to obey them as the interpreters of the will 
of the people; and the best proof he could give that he 
would obey them was now to observe the orders of those 
whom the people had already put in the places of author- 
ity, to which many gentlemen around him justly aspired. 
In plain English, gentlemen and fellow- citizens, the word 
has been passed on to me from Washington to follow 
Black Hawk, and to take you with me as soldiers. I 
mean to do both. There are the flat boats drawn up on 
the shore, and here are Uncle Sam's men drawn up 
behind you on the prairie.' " No answer could be made 
to such an argument. Instant obedience followed. 

When the command of Major Dade had been mas- 
sacred in Florida, the government determined to prose- 
cute hostilities against the enemy with vigour, and 
Colonel Taylor was ordered to the seat of war. In 
December, 1837, he received orders to seek out any 
portion of the enemy, wherever to be found, and to de- 
stroy or capture his forces. He soon displayed his skill 



ZACHARY TAYLOR. 233 

Battle of Okee-Chobee. 

in finding an Indian enemy, and his ability in defeat- 
ing him. He was informed that the Micasukies had 
determined to fight him, and he was determined to in- 
dulge them, and accordingly the conflict took place on. 
the 25th of December, on the shore of lake Okee-Chobee. 
The Indians, after a severe conflict, were beaten, and 
driven at all points. They had several hundred war- 
riors engaged in an admirable position, which they 
defended for two hours and a half with the greatest 
gallantry, killing and wounding one-fifth of Taylor's 
whole command. After the victory, Colonel Taylor 
turned his whole attention to the care of the wounded, 
who w^ere most tenderly treated. For his services in 
this affair. Colonel Taylor received the thanks of the 
president, and promotion to the rank of brigadier-gene- 
ral by brevet. 

General Taylor continued to prosecute hostilities 
against the savages until April, 1840, when he was 
relieved by General Armistead. 

He was then appointed to the command of the first 
department of the army in the south-west, and continued 
m the service there until, as we have already seen, he 
was ordered to Corpus Christi. We have already given 
detailed accounts of the four brilliant achievements 
which have made his name so universally popular 
throughout our country, and we will not now repeat 
them. We pass on to narrate such anecdotes of him as 
will serve to give the best idea of the man and his 
character. 

When his reply to the communication of Ampudia 
respecting the blockading of the Rio Grande was pub- 
lished, it received the universal approbation of the 
20* 



234 THE WARRIORS. 



Anecdotes. 



soldiers and their patriotic countrymen, and all felt 
assured that the honour of the country was safe in his 
hands. The troops felt that the man who could talk in 
such a manner was able to make good his w^ords, and 
his order issued when about to march from Matamoras 
to Point Isabel, on the 7th of May, assured them of a 
speedy victory. He spoke to his inferior force of raw 
troops as to veterans, and in the confident tone of one 
who knows his own power, assured them of victory, and 
reminded them to place their main dependence on the 
bayonet^ and as if his words had not been sufficient, his 
demeanour on the battle-field was such as to make the 
veriest coward dare a hundred deaths in his cause. 
When one of his officers saw him sitting on his horse in 
the thickest of the fight, with his sword drawn, while 
the balls were rattling around him, and desired him to 
retire a short distance, where his person would not be 
so much exposed, he smiled good-humouredly, and 
anwered, ^Het us ride a little nearer, the halls will fall 
behind us^ 

When the Mexican lancers made a charge upon the 
American right at Palo Alto, and the 5th infantry stood 
ready to receive it. General Taylor rode up and said, 
*'Men, I place myself in your square." How could a 
man falter after such a mark of confidence ? 

Somewhat in the style of his speech to the militia 
men, is the remark made to General Ricardo, who ex- 
culpated his troops from the charge of stripping and 
mutilating the American dead, by saying that the women 
and rancheros did it ; that they could not control them. 
General Taylor replied, " I am coming over to Mata- 
moras, and I'll control them for you." 



ZACHARY TAYLOR. 235 

Anecdotes. 

On the 30th of May, President Polk wrote to him, 
forwarding a commission as brevet major-general, and 
complimenting him on " the bright page he had added 
to American history." The legislature of Louisiana 
passed a vote of thanks, and ordered a sword to be pre- 
sented to him. By an act of Congress he was promoted 
to be a full major-general. 

At Monterey, he was in the town with his staff on 
foot, walking about perfectly regardless of danger, where 
the shot flew about as "if bushels of hickory nuts were 
hurled at us." Captain Henry says that seeing him 
crossing a street in a walk, while such a terrible cross- 
fire swept it that it seemed impossible for him to escape, 
he ran across and reminded him how much he was ex- 
posing himself. The answer the gallant captain received 
was, "Take an axe and knock in that door." Another 
officer, noticing his conduct in the streets of Monterey, 
says, " He was as cool as a cucumber, and ordered us 
to pass into the city and break open the houses. God 
knows how many of us got out." 

Speaking of the battle of Buena Vista, Captain Henry 
says in his Campaign Sketches, " Our rear was in 
danger ; the tide of battle was decidedly against us ; the 
fortunes of the day seemed cast upon a die, when, at 
this critical juncture. General Taylor arrived upon the 
field, and occupied a commanding position upon an ele- 
vated plateau. His presence restored confidence. * * * 
General Taylor stood calm and unmoved upon the pla- 
teau — all eyes were turned upon him. The leaden mes- 
sengers of death swept harmlessly by his person, while 
hundreds were passing to futurity. Bragg, with his bat- 
tery had arrived at the point of fearful struggle. Alone 



236 



THE WARRIORS. 



Anecdote. 



and unsupported was that battery and that brave old 
chief. Confident to the last of victory, he ordered his 
trusty captain to unlimber — to load with grape, and 
await the arrival of their masses until they nearly 
reached the muzzles of his pieces. On came the enemy 
like legions of fiends, certain of victory. When almost 
within grasp of the battery, Bragg opened his fire. The 
first volley staggered them, the second opened streets 
through their ranks, and the third put them in full re- 
treat and saved the day." 

" It was not," says Colonel Davis, " alone on the bat- 
tle field that we learned to love General Taylor. The 
excitement of the carnage over, the same soul that could 
remain unmoved when his friends were falling like 
leaves about him, who could look unblanched upon the 
front of the thundering artillery, became the poor soldier's 
most sympathizing friend ; and the eye so stern in battle 
was as mild as the tenderhearted matron's." 

When the gallant Mississippi regiment was about to 
leave him, overpowered by the recollection of the high 
deeds which had endeared them to him, and with their 
demonstrations of respect and affection, he attempted in 
vain to address them. With tears streaming down his 
furrowed cheeks, all he could say was, ** Go on, boys — • 
go on — I can't speak." Such is the character of Ge- 
neral Taylor, as a man. 





Worth at Monterey. 

GENERAL WILLIAM J. WORTH. 

N his youth, Worth was engaged in 
a mercantile business in Albany ; but 
just before the commencement of the 
war of 1812, he left his employment, 
and entered the service of his coun- 
try. 

The first signal opportunity which occurred for dis- 
playing the military talent for which he is now so cele- 
brated, occurred at the battle of Chippewa, July 5th, 
1814. In his official account of that battle, General 
Brown says, "the family of General Scott were con- 
spicuous in the field. Lieutenant Smith, of the 6th 
infantry, the major of the brigade, and Lieutenants 
Worth and Watts, his aids." 

A captain's commission, dated August 19th, 1814, 
was the result of this notice. At the battle of Niagara, 

(239) 



240 THE WARRIORS. 

His victofy at Palaklaklaha. 

or Lundy's Lane, Captain Worth again distinguished 
himself, and was rewarded by promotion to the rank of 
a major, but a severe wound received in the battle, 
compelled him to remain for a time inactive. After the 
peace, he was some time, military instructor of the West 
Point Military Academy. He gradually rose in the 
army, but found no active service until he was employed 
against the Indians, in the Florida war. In April, 1842, 
he gained a brilliant victory at Palaklaklaha, which 
brought the war to a close for a time. He was made 
brigadier-general by brevet, March 1st, 1842, but 
some point of military etiquette caused him to resign, 
when the army of occupation was lying before Mata- 
moras, by which he w^as deprived, greatly to his regret, 
of all participation in the glorious conflicts of the 8th 
and 9th of May. Hearing of these battles, he withdrew 
his resignation, hastened to join the standard of General 
Taylor, and gained imperishable renown at Monterey. 

General Taylor employed the other divisions of the 
army in making a diversion on the east side of the city, 
in order to favour the operations of General Worth, who 
was directed to gain the Saltillo road at its junction 
with those leading from the city, and then when the 
enemy's supplies and retreat should be cut off, to storm 
the heights overlooking it and the south-western angle 
of the city. The fortifications w^ere on one height, a 
large unfinished structure designed for the Bishop's 
Palace, and known by that name, and opposite the 
Bishop's Palace, and across the. San Juan, (Federation 
Hill,) two others, one called from the name of the bat- 
tery on its crest, Federation Hill, the other Sole dad, or 
Soldada. 



WILLIAM J. WORTH. 243 

Stonxiingof Federation Hill. 

At daylight, on the morning of the 21st, General 
Worth put his division in motion, so formed as to present 
the readiest order of battle at any point at which it might 
be assailed. As he advanced, he found a large body of 
lancers drawn up to oppose him, and a spirited engage- 
ment ensued between them and McCulloch's Texan 
rangers, aided by Captains C. F. Smith and Scott, and 
Duncan's battery. The Mexicans were defeated with 
heavy loss, and driven beyond the gorge where all the 
roads from Monterey united, and thereby shut out from 
the city. When his preparations were completed, at noon, 
General Worth rode up to the men he had designed for 
the storming of Federation Hill, and pointing up the 
hill, said to them as they moved off, "Men, you are to 
take that hill — and I know you will do it." With one 
shout they replied, "we will;" and they did. The 
words of their general had nerved their arms and in- 
spirited their hearts, and they crossed the river amid a 
shower of grape and musket balls, and advanced up the 
hill, supported by reinforcements sent in good season by 
the general, and beating back, inch by inch, the gallant 
forces who opposed them. At the top of this hill a 
cannon was captured, remounted, and turned upon the 
foe. The enemy had retreated to the other peak of the 
ridge. Fort Soldada, and a perfect race now ensued 
between the 5th and 7th regiments of infantry, and the 
Texas rangers, as to which should first enter that fortress. 
Captain Gillespie, of the rangers, was the first to mount 
the works, but he was so closely followed by Lieutenant 
Pitcher, of the 5th, that the two regiments shared 
equally the honour of having captured a gun, abandoned 
by the enemy as he was driven from the fort. The 



244 THE WARRIORS 

Capture of the Bishop's Palace. 

cannon captured in these two places, were immediately 
turned upon the Bishop's Palace. The generalship 
exhibited by General Worth in this affair, is deserving 
of the highest praise. The completion of his labours is 
not less so. Before day on the morning of the 22d, a 
detachment moved to assault the fortifications on Inde- 
pendence Hill, an almost inaccessible height, nearly 
perpendicular, between seven and eight hundred feet 
high. The party which captured this formidable posi- 
tion, was led by Colonel Childs and Captain John R. 
Vinton. His loss was few in numbers, but among the 
slain was the gallant Captain R. A. Gillespie, who had 
so distinguished himself on the preceding day. The 
height gained. Lieutenants Roland, McPhail, and Deas 
succeeded in two hours, in raising a twelve-pound 
howitzer to the top of this steep and rugged acclivity, 
and opened a terrible fire upon the Bishop's Palace, not 
four hundred yards distant. By a brilliant manoeuver, 
Captain Vinton enticed a party of the defenders to come 
out of the palace, then defeated them, drove them down 
the hill beyond it, entered the palace, and overpowered 
its remaining defenders. Thus, says Mr. Kendall, by a 
series of brilliant, well-planned, and successful move- 
ments. General Worth found himself in full possession 
of three of the enemy's batteries, the stronghold known 
as the Bishop's Palace, seven pieces of artillery, and a 
large quantity of ammunition and intrenching tools, two 
of their standards, and what was of still greater impor- 
tance, the entire occupation of the Saltillo road, and a 
complete command of all the western portion of the city 
of Monterey. 

The street fight in which General Worth participated 



WILLIAM J. WORTH. 245 



Capture of the tete du pont. 



largely, will be more particularly described among the 
achievements of General Quitman. General Worth 
was soon summoned away from this scene of his 
triumphs to the siege of Vera Cruz, where, under Gene- 
ral Scott, he bore a conspicuous part, and was present 
at the surrender. He was made commander of the city 
of Vera Cruz, but was not long employed on garrison 
duty. Leaving Colonel Wilson to look after the city, he 
took up his line of march for the city of Mexico, and 
was so fortunate as to obtain a share with his division 
in the brilliant victory of Cerro Gordo. With increased 
reputation he marched onward with Scott to Churu- 
busco, where his brilliant feat, the capture of the tete du 
pont, contributed largely to the success of the day. 

For an account of the taking of the Molino del Rey and 
Chapultepec, we have drawn largely upon the official 
report of General Worth himself. 

" On a reconnoissance of the formidable dispositions of 
the enemy, near and around the castle of Chapultepec, 
they were found to exhibit an extended line of cavalry 
and infantry, sustained by a field battery of four guns — 
occupying directly, or sustaining, a system of defenses 
collateral to the castle and summit. This examination 
gave fair observation of the configuration of the grounds, 
and the extent of the enemy's lines, but, as appeared 
in the sequel, an inadequte idea of the nature of his de- 
fenses — they being skilfully masked. 

The general-in-chief ordered that General Worth 
should attack and carry those lines and defenses, cap- 
ture the enemy's artillery, destroy the machinery and 
material supposed to be in the foundry, (El Molino del 
Rey ;) but limiting the operations to that extent. After 
21* 



246 THE WARRIORS. 



Reconnoissance of tlie enemy's positions. 



which his command was to be immediately withdrawn 
to its position in the village of Tucubaya. 

A close and daring reconnoissance, by Captain Mason, 
of the engineers, made on the morning of the 7th, repre- 
sented the enemy's lines collateral to Chapultepec, to 
be as follows : His left rested upon and occupied a 
group of strong stone buildings, called El Molino del 
Rey, adjoining the grove at the foot of the hill of Cha- 
pultepec, and directly under the guns of the castle which 
crowns the summit. The right of his line rested upon 
another stone building, called CasaMata, situated at the 
foot of the ridge that slopes gradually from the heights 
above the village of Tacubaya to the plain below. Mid- 
way between these buildings was the enemy's field bat- 
tery, and his infantry forces were disposed on either 
side to support it. This reconnoissance was verified 
by Captain Mason and Colonel Duncan, on the after- 
noon of the same day. The result indicated that the 
centre was the weak point of the enemy's position ; and 
that his flanks were the strong points, his left flank being 
the stronger. 

Having made the necessary directions, at three o'clock 
on the morning of the 8th, the several columns were 
put in motion, on as many different routes ; and, when 
the gray of the morning enabled them to be seen, they 
were as accurately in position as if posted in midday 
for review. The early dawn was the moment appointed 
for the attack, which was announced to our troops by 
the opening of Huger's guns on El Molino del Rey, 
upon which they continued to play actively until this 
point of the enemy's line became sensibly shaken, when 
the assaulting party, commanded by Captain Wright, 



WILLIAM J. WORTH. 249 

Assualt on Molino del Hej. 

and guided by that accomplished officer, Captain Mason, 
of the engineers, assisted by Lieutenant Foster, dashed 
gallantly forward to the assault. Unshaken by the galling 
fire of musketry and canister that was showered upon 
them, on they rushed, driving infantry and artillerymen 
at the point of the bayonet. The enemy's field battery 
was taken, and his own guns were trailed upon his re- 
treating masses ; before, however, they could be. dis- 
charged, perceiving that he had been dispossessed of 
this strong position by comparatively a handful of men, 
he made a desperate effort to regain it. Accordingly 
his retiring forces rallied and formed with this object. 
Aided by the infantry, which covered the house-tops, 
(within reach of which the battery had been moved 
during the night,) the enemy's whole line opened upon 
the assaulting party a terrific fire of musketry which 
struck down eleven out of the fourteen officers that com- 
posed the command, and non-commissioned officers and 
men in proportion. This severe shock staggered, for a 
moment, that gallant band. The light battalion, held 
to cover Huger's battery, under Captain E, Kirby Smith, 
(Lieutenant-Colonel Smith being sick,) and the right 
wing of Cadwalader's brigade, were promptly ordered 
forward to support, which order was executed in the 
most gallant style ; the enemy was again routed, and 
this point of his line carried, and fully possessed by our 
troops. In the mean time Garland's (1st) brigade, abl^j 
sustained by Captain Drum's artillery, assaulted the 
enemy's lefl, and, after an obstinate and very severe 
contest, drove him from this apparently impregnable 
position, immediately under the guns of the castle 
of Chapultepec. Drum's section, and the battering 



250 THE WARRIORS. 



Assault on Casa Mata. 



guns under Captain Huger, advanced to the enemy's 
position, and the captured guns of. the enemy were now 
opened on his retreating forces, on which they continued 
to fire until beyond their reach. While this work was 
in progress of accomplishment, by our centre and right, 
our troops on the left were not idle. Duncan's battery 
opened on the right of the enemy's line, up to this time 
engaged ; and the 2d brigade, under Colonel Mcintosh, 
was now ordered to assault the extreme right of the 
enemy's line. The direction of this brigade soon caused 
it to mask Duncan's battery — the fire of which, for the 
moment, was discontinued — and the brigade moved 
steadily on to the assault of Casa Mata, which, instead 
of an ordinary field intrenchment, as was supposed, 
proved to be a strong stone citadel, surrounded with 
bastioned intrenchments and impassable ditches — an 
old Spanish work, recently repaired and enlarged. 
When within easy musket range, the enemy opened a 
most deadly fire upon our advancing troops, which was 
kept up, without intermission, until our gallant men 
reached the very slope of the parapet of the work that 
surrounded the citadel. By this time, a large propor- 
tion of the command was either killed or wounded, 
amongst whom were the three senior officers present — 
Brevet-Colonel Mcintosh, Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel 
Scott, of the 5th infantry, and Major Waite, 8th infantry ; 
the second killed, and the first and last desperately 
wounded. Still the fire from the citadel was unabated. 
In this crisis of the attack, the command was, momen- 
tarily, thrown into disorder, and fell back on the left 
of Duncan's battery, where they rallied. As the 2d 
brigade moved to the assault, a very large cavalry and 



WILLIAM J. WORTH. 251 

Thy Casa Mata blown up. 

infantry force was discovered approaching rapidly upon 
our left flank, to reinforce the enemy's right. As soon 
as Duncan's battery was masked, as before mentioned, 
supported by Andrews's voltigeurs, of Gadwalader's 
brigade, it moved promptly to the extreme left of our 
line, to check the threatened assault on this point. The 
enemy's cavalry came rapidly within canister range, 
when the whole battery opened a most effective fire, 
which soon broke the squadrons, and drove them back 
in disorder. During this fire upon the enemy's cavalry, 
Major Sumner's command moved to the front, and 
changed direction in admirable order, under a most 
appalling fire from the Casa Mata. This movement 
enabled his command to cross the ravine immediately on 
the left of Duncan's battery, where it remained, doing 
noble service until the close of the action. At the very 
moment the cavalry were driven beyond reach, our own 
troops drew back from before the Casa Mata, and ena- 
bled the guns of Duncan's battery to reopen upon this 
position ; which, after a short and well-directed fire, the 
enemy abandoned. The guns of the battery were now 
turned upon his retreating columns, and continued to 
play upon them until beyond reach. 

He was now driven from every point of the field, and 
his strong lines, which had certainly been defended well, 
were in our possession. In fulfilment of the instructions 
of the commander-in-chief, the Casa Mata was blown 
up, and such of the captured ammunition as was useless 
to us, as well as the cannon moulds found in El Molino 
del Rey, were destroyed. After which my command, 
under the reiterated orders of the general-in- chief, re- 
turned to quarters at Tacubaya, with three of the enemy's 



252 THE WARRIORS. 

Mexican loss in killed, -wounded, and prisoners. 

four gunSj (the fourth, having been spiked, was rendered 
unserviceable ;) as also a large quantity of small arms, 
with gun and musket ammunition, and exceeding eight 
hundred prisoners, including fifty-two commissioned 
officers. 

By concurrent testimony of prisoners the enemy's 
force exceeded fourteen thousand men commanded by 
General Santa Anna in person. His total loss killed, 
(including the second and third in command. Generals 
Valdarez and Leon,) wounded and prisoners, amounts 
to three thousand, exclusive of some two thousand who 
deserted after the rout. 

My command, reinforced as before stated, only reached 
three thousand one hundred men of all arms. The con- 
test continued two hours, and its severity is painfully 
attested by our heavy loss of officers, non-commissioned 
officers, and privates, including in the first two classes 
some of the brightest ornaments in the service. 

It will be seen that subordinate commanders speak in 
the warmest terms of the conduct of their officers and 
men, to which I beg leave to add my cordial testimony. 
There can be no higher exhibition of courage, constancy, 
and devotion to duty and to country. 

These operations occurring under the observation of 
the general-in-chief, gives assurance that justice will be 
done to the noble officers and soldiers whose valour 
achieved this glorious but dear-bought victory. Com- 
mending the gallant dead, the wounded, and the few 
unscathed to the respectfiil memory of their countrymen, 
and the rewards due to valour and conduct, I present 
the names of those especially noticed by the subordinate 



WILlilAM J. WORTH. 253 

His achievements at Monterey. 

commanders, uniting in all they have said, and extend- 
ing the same testimony to those not named." 

The history of the terrible conflict at Chapultepec, 
where none but the invincible were fit to fight, we have 
already given in the words of General Scott. The gen- 
eral's whole account is a tribute to the skill and bravery 
of General Worth. 

We cannot better close this sketch of General Worth's 
achievements, than by the following extract from the 
eloquent work of Samuel C. Reid, Esq., "Scouting 
Expeditions with McCulloch's Texas Rangers." Speak- 
ing of General Worth and his position at Monterey, after 
the cavalry fight on the 21st, by which the gorge of the 
Saltillo road was taken, he says, 'Hhe position General 
Worth then occupied might have been considered as 
critical as it was dangerous. Separated from the main 
body of the army — ^his communication cut off, and no 
possible route less than eight miles to regain it — with 
but scanty supplies of provision for only four days — 
surrounded by gorges and passes of the mountains from 
whose summits belched forth the destructive shot, shell, 
and grape ; he was liable at any moment to be attacked 
by an overwhelming force in the direction of Saltillo, 
which had been reported to be daily expected, and 
which would have placed his command in the very jaws 
of the enemy. For although holding the passes and 
gorges of the Saltillo road, yet a superior force from the 
advance would certainly have forced him back to, and 
have turned upon him, the very passes which he then 
held. It was feared, too, from his impetuous nature that 
he would rush his command into unnecessary danger by 
some rash and desperate attempt. But it was not so. 
22 



254 THE WARRIORS. 

His acliieveinents at Monterey. 

He was collected, calm, and cool, and bore himself with 
that proud, resolute and commanding mien, giving his 
orders with promptness and decision which inspired men 
and officer alike with confidence. He never appeared 
better than on that day ; and all felt that with WORTH 
they were sure of victory, ^^ 





GENERAL JOHN E. WOOL. 

OHN E. Wool was born in Orange county, 
New York, and resided at the commence- 
ment of the war of 1812 at Troy, New- 
York, where he assisted in organizing a 
volunteer corps. He was, soon after, appointed to a 
captaincy in the 13th infantry. At the battle of Queens- 
town he bore a conspicuous part. The destruction of 
the American officers by the terrible fire of the enemy, 
caused the duty of charging their battery to devolve 
upon Captain Wool, and it could not have been com- 
mitted to better hands. Rallied by General Brock, 
the defeated British advanced to retake the battery, but 
Captain Wool tearing down with his own hands a white 
flag raised by one of his men, charged them a second 

(255) 



256 THE WARRIORS. 

■ ■ — ■ — — w 

Battle of Plattsburg. 



time, and defeated them again, with the loss of their 
brave commander, General Brock. His gallantry won 
for him the rank of Major, conferred during the cam- 
paign of 1813. In this capacity he participated in the 
battle of Plattsburg, the official account of which, given 
by General Macomb, contains the following. 

^* The column on the Beekmantown road proceeded 
most rapidly; the militia skirmished with his advanced 
parties, and, except a few brave men, fell back most 
precipitately in the greatest disorder, notwithstanding 
the British troops did not deign to fire on them, except 
by their flankers and advanced patroles. The night 
previous I ordered Major Wool to advance with a de- 
tachment of two hundred and fifty men to support the 
militia, and set them an example of firmness. Also 
Captain Leonard, of the light artillery, was directed to 
proceed with two pieces to be on the ground before day, 
yet he did not make his appearance until eight o'clock, 
when the enemy had approached within two miles of 
the village. With his conduct, therefore, I am not well 
pleased. Major Wool, with his party, disputed the road 
with great obstinacy, but the militia could not be pre- 
vailed upon to stand, notwithstanding the exertions of 
their general and staflf officers; although the fields were 
divided by strong stone walls, and they were told that 
the enemy could not possibly cut them off. The state 
dragoons of New York wear red coats, and they being 
on the heights to watch the enemy, gave constant alarm 
to the militia, who mistook them for the enemy, and 
feared his getting in their rear. Finding the enemy's 
columns had penetrated within a mile of Plattsburg, I 
despatched my aid-de-camp, Lieutenant Root, to bring 



JOHN E. WOOL. 257 



Battle of Flattsburg. 



I 



off the detachment at Dead Creek, and to inform Lieu- 
tenant Appling that I wished him to fall on the enemy's 
right flank. The colonel fortunately arrived just in time 
to save his retreat, and to fall in with the head of a 
column debouciiing from the woods. Here he poured 
in a destructive fire from his riflemen at rest, and con- 
tinued to annoy the column until he formed a junction 
with Major Wool. The field-pieces did considerable 
execution among the enemy's columns. So undaunted, 
however, was the enemy, that he never deployed in his 
whole march, always pressing on in column. Finding 
that every road was full of troops crowding on us on all 
sides, I ordered the field-pieces to retire across the 
bridge and form a battery for its protection, and to cover 
the retreat of the infantry, which was accordingly done, 
and the parties of Appling and Wool, as well as that of 
Sproul, retired alternately, keeping up a brisk fire until 
they got under cover of the works. The enemy's light 
troops occupied the houses near the bridge, and kept 
up a constant firing from the windows and balconies, 
and annoyed us much. I ordered them to be driven 
out with hot shot, which soon put the houses in flames, 
and obliged these sharp-shooters to retire. The whole 
day, until it was too late to see, the enemy's light troops 
endeavoured to drive our guards from the bridge, but 
they suffered dearly for their perseverance. An attempt 
was also made to cross the upper bridge, where the 
militia handsomely drove them back." 

The conclusion of the official despatch contains a 
handsome notice of the most distinguished oflficers, Ap- 
pling, Wool, Totten, and others. President Madison 
conferred on Major Wool the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel 
R 22* 



258 THE WARRIORS. 



Marches to Monclova. 



by brevet ; the letter by which he was apprized of the 
honour stating in complimentary terms that it was for 
his bravery at Plattsburg. After the close of the war he 
served in various capacities, gradually rising in his pro- 
fession, until June, 1841, when he received his commis- 
sion as brigadier- general. At the beginning of the 
Mexican war, it was determined to direct an expedition 
against the provinces of Mexico, and General Wool was 
selected to command it. The mass of this army was 
composed of volunteers, mostly commanded by regular 
officers. 

He led his command over a long and toilsome march 
to the city of Monclova, where the governor came out 
to meet him as a friend, and surrendered the city with- 
out a word. Reports of the movement made upon 
Chihuahua by Colonel Doniphan under the orders of 
General Kearny, determined General Wool not to ad- 
vance against that city, and he soon after received 
orders from General Taylor to capture the city of Parras. 
He arrived there on the 6th of December, 1846, where 
the people became so much attached to him that when 
he left the city to march to Saltillo, the ladies besought 
him to commit his sick to their care. He did so, and 
they proved their sincerity by the most. anxious and ten- 
der nursing. His movements after joining General 
Taylor have already been recorded. At Buena Vista, 
the details of the battle were committed to him by 
General Taylor, and the whole account of the victory 
shows how fully he justified the confidence of his com- 
mander. 





GENERAL DAVID E. TWIGGS. 

AVID E. Twiggs was born in Richmond 
county, Georgia, in 1790, and bred to 
the bar, but the war of 1812 brought 
about a change in his profession. 
He obtained a captain's commission, 
conducted himself every where well, 
and was rewarded for his gallantry by being raised to 
the rank of major by brevet. He served with dis- 
tinction under General Jackson in the Indian cam- 
paigns, and under Generals Gaines and Scott, in Flo- 
rida. Under Scott he held the rank of colonel of 
the 2d regiment of dragoons. His regiment was at- 
tached to the " Army of Occupation," and he has borne 
a part with the utmost honour to himself in every 

(259) 



260 THE WARRIORS. 

His discipline and goodness of heart. 

great battle, save that of Buena Vista. He commanded 
the right wing of the army in the battles on the Rio 
Grande, and contributed greatly to the capture of Mon- 
terey. He was complimented by General Taylor for 
his bravery and valuable services. He has participated 
in all the glorious triumphs on the road to Mexico, 
winning honour at every step. He is still at the head 
of his division, and in case of an opportunity will give 
a good account of it. 

Like his fellow-soldier Wool, he is one of the most 
rigid disciplinarians in the army. An instance of that 
perfection of discipline to which he had brought his 
men, as well as of his goodness of heart may be seen 
from the following : — On the road from Palo Alto, when 
the army w^as advancing to meet the enemy a second 
time, a wounded Mexican was seen lying in the long 
grass beside the road. He raised himself up, and 
showed by signs that he was dying for water. The 
sight impressed all who witnessed it, and all desired to 
rush to his relief, but such a breach of discipline they 
dared not commit under the command of Colonel Twiggs. 
At length the eye of the colonel fell upon the sufferer. 
His discipline was forgotten. '* Men, the poor fellow 
wants water!" he exclaimed, and in an instant a dozen 
canteens were flung at his feet. Twiggs then directed 
them to give him food, and he ate and died, surrounded 
by marks of the generosity and kindness of the American 
colonel and his men. After the taking of Matamoras, 
Colonel Twiggs was appointed governor of the town, 
and to his especial care was intrusted the taking pos- 
session of the military stores left by the Mexican army. 
Don Jesus Cardenas, the prefect of Matamoras at the 



DAVID E. TWtGGS. 261 

Takes possession of military stores. 

time General Taylor took possession, was distinguished 
among his fellow-citizens for his oppression, and for his 
hatred to foreigners. In surrendering the city, the pre- 
fect's only care was to know if he could retain his 
office. He never stipulated for any privileges for the 
citizens, or seemed in any way to think of their interests. 
Immediately on Colonel Twiggs taking command, he 
sent for this notable Cardenas, and asked him for an 
inventory of the public property. He stated, positively, 
that he knew of none, and persisted in declaring that 
none was left by the Mexican forces when they evacuated 
the city. Colonel Twiggs dismissed him, and entering 
the city with information obtained from other quarters, 
soon began to find vast quantities of military stores, in 
almost all the out-of-the-way places about the plaza. 

This outrageous trifling on the part of the prefect 
Colonel Twiggs was determined to notice. Accordingly 
he waited upon him the following morning at his office, 
to give the gentleman what is denominated a " plain 
talk." The colonel laboured under one difficulty — 
eloquent himself, it was a great drawback to have it 
marred by an indifferent translator. Fortunately, an 
American citizen by the name of Dugden, a very intel- 
ligent gentleman of Matamoras, and an object of the 
prefect's special oppression, offered his services as an 
interpreter. " I wish to give this falsifying prefect a 
proper notion of his conduct," said the colonel, with 
a variety of expletives. " Can you, Mr. Dugden, do 
justice to what I say?" Mr. Dugden assented, and the 
governor laid down the first paragraph of his lecture in 
English. Dugden did justice to what was said, and, 



262 THE WARRIORS. 

Crosses the Sierra Madre. 

it was thought, added a little on his own responsibility, 
much to the gratification of the governor. 

The prefect, bearded in his own den, began to turn 
a variety of colours : his consternation increased as the 
citizens of the town crowded into his office, and, by the 
wildest expressions of delight, testified their pleasure at 
what was going on. The prefect literally trembled in 
his shoes, and promised to act better, and honestly point 
out the hidden treasures. But he prevaricated so con- 
stantly, that he was finally dismissed, and ejected from 
the shadow of the office he still held, and he left the 
city, it was supposed, to join Arista or some other gene- 
ral in the interior.* 

Captain Henry, in his Campaign Sketches, gives an 
amusing account of the manner in which General Twiggs 
crossed the Sierra Madre, on his expedition against 
Victoria, December 16th, 1846. We make an extract 
from his narrative. He says, '^ We passed over a lovely 
country ; it was a succession of stony ridges, and basins 
of the richest kind of soil. We marched along rapidly, 
and before noon had passed over twelve miles, when we 
reached a hill which forbade any chance of our wagons 
ascending without the assistance of the men. I chris- 
tened it Disappointment Hill ; for we were very anxious 
to reach Montemorelos, and we saw our march delayed 
for some time, within sight of the place. We ascended, 
stacked arms, and marched down again to assist the 
teams. The artillery got along admirably by hitching 
twelve horses to a piece ; but when the mule teams 
came, it was entirely another thing. The ascent must 

* Our Army on the Rio Grande. 



DAVID E. TWIGGS. 263 

Crossing the Sierra Madre. 

have been at least forty-five degrees ; certainly one of 
the steepest hills I ever saw wagons ascend. 

General Twiggs assumed the management of the 
passage in person. Those who know the general can- 
not but recollect his peculiarities and his faculty of get- 
ting more work out of men in a given time than any 
other officer in the army. A quartermaster stood no 
chance ; his stentorian lungs drowned every one's voice ; 
and his tone of command did not admit of any question. 
' Bring on that team, there !' Along comes the team 
with a company of men hold of its w^heels, and every 
available point. Quartermaster — ' Drive slowly, a little 
way at a time, and let your mules blow.' Team com- 
mences the ascent ; all steam is cracked on and the 
quartermaster cries * stop.' *Stop! the devil!' cries 
the general, * who ever heard of such a thing ? Crack 
ahead ! speak to your mules, sir, and keep them going 
as long as they will.' And away goes the team amid 
cracking of whips and cheering of men. The men 
would file on about six feet deep behind, pushing each 
other along. * General, those men are certainly doing 
no good.' * You are mistaken, sir; they are keeping 
the man next the wagon from holding on going up hill.' 
The last to cross was the quartermaster's forge. ' Well,' 
exclaimed the general, ^ do you think you can get up, 
lasty, asty, without any men ?' * yes, general.' ' Well, 
on with you.' By the time ^ lasty' had ascended twenty 
feet, the mules commenced backing. ^ Great God! 
teamster, which way are you going? That's not the 
way up the hill.' And amid peals of laughter, a com- 
pany went to the assistance of * lasty.' With any num- 



264 



THE WARRIORS. 



His family. 



ber of jokes, the general succeeded in crossing the train 
in an hour and a half." 

In the estimation of General Scott, General Twiggs 
evidently holds a very exalted position. The tributes 
paid to his valour and conduct in the despatches of the 
general-in- chief, are of the most warm and decisive, as 
well as respectful character. 

General Twiggs's family has long been famous in the 
military history of the country. His father, General 
John Twiggs, rendered services in the revolutionary 
war, of such importance as to gain him the title of 
** Saviour of Georgia." His brother, Major Twiggs, 
and his nephew, Lieutenant Twiggs, son of the major, 
both fell in the recent operations before the city of 
Mexico. 





GENERAL JOHN A. QUITMAN, 

officer has deserved a higher 
character for all the qualities 
which constitute a good soldier 
than General Quitman. He 
has carved his name in bold 
characters upon the military re- 
cords of our country ; connected 
it indissolubly with the victories 
of Monterey, Cerro Gordo, and the battles of Mexico. 
At Monterey he was particularly distinguished, and there 
and in the city of Mexico, his bravery in penetrating the 
tow^n contributed greatly to secure and hasten victory. 
The following description of the taking of Fort Teneria 
at Monterey by his command, will give an idea of the 
nature of the services he is called on to perform, ser- 
vices only asked of those who know not how to fail. 
23 (265) 




266 THE WARRIORS. 

Taking of Fort Teneria. 

**The battle now became furious — the incessant roar 
of cannon, and the rattling of musketry, told how 
desperate was the conflict. The cross fire was indeed 
terrible. On marched Quitman's brigade, led by four 
companies of the 4th infantry, about four hundred yards 
in the advance, breasting the dreadful storm which made 
them stagger, and at once struck down one-third of the 
officers and men, rendering it necessary for the remainder 
to retire and effect a junction with the two other com- 
panies then advancing. Lieutenant Hoskins, the adju- 
tant, and Lieutenant J. S. Woods, of the 2d, but serving 
with the 4th, were killed ; and Lieutenant R. H. Graham 
fell mortally wounded. Thus the 3d and 4th both lost 
their adjutants, who were two of the most noble and 
accomplished officers in the army. The Mississippians 
and Tennesseeans steadily advanced, braving the galling 
fire of copper grape, which swept through their ranks, 
until the centre of the Mississippi rifle regiment rested 
about three hundred yards in front of the fort, with the 
Tennessee regiment formed on the left. It was the 
crisis, and the storm of battle was now at its height. 
The order was given to ^^ advance andjire."^^ For thirty 
minutes their fire was kept up, while the men continued 
to push forward. The long lines moved until within 
about one hundred yards of the fort, when they became 
lost in the volume of smoke that enveloped them. The 
Mexicans had run up a new flag in exultation, and in de- 
fiance of the assault, which was now being made in front 
and rear, while the deafening fire of their artillery, and 
the rattling of musketry, seemed more deadly than ever. 
The brave and chivalric Lieutenant-Colonel McClung 
then ordered a charge ; and calling on the *^ Tom- 



JOHN A. QUITMAN. 267 

Taking of Fort Teneria. 

bigbee volunteers," a company he formerly commanded, 
and the " Vicksburg Southrons," of Captain Willis, to 
follow him, he rushed forward to the attack. Colonel 
Davis also gave the order to ch rge nearly at the same 
time, or shortly after, anticipating General Quitman, who 
was just on the point himself of issuing the same order. 
"With desperation the lines came down upon the fort, 
and the escalade was made with the fury of a tempest. 
Burning for revenge, the men faced the terrible fire, and 
marched up to the very mouths of the enemy's cannon, 
while their daring recklessness made the Mexicans quail, 
and fall back terror-stricken from their guns. Forward 
sprang the gallant McClung and leaped the ditch ; with 
sword in hand, and brandishing it over his head, he 
mounted the ramparts and entered the fort, while the 
regiment rushed after him, cheered on by the gallant 
Colonel Davis, and followed by the brave Tennesseeans 
of the noble Campbell. Lieutenant W. H. Patterson, 
of Captain Rogers's " Tombigbee volunteers," was the 
second man in the fort, to whom a Mexican officer sur- 
rendered and gave up his sword, and but an instant 
passed before the undaunted Captain D. H. Cooper with 
his high-souled corps of ^' Wilkinson county volunteers," 
and the whole brigade had entered, when a yell and 
shout of triumph rose above the din of battle, and a wild 
hurrah rang over the scene of strife, which sent forth the 
*^ harbinger of victory." 

The Mexicans fled in dismay, and ran to the strong 
fortified building, called the distillery, about seventy- 
five yards in the rear, whence they opened a heavy fire 
of musketry. Without pausing, the heroic McClung, 
followed by the brigade, rushed on in pursuit, charged 



568 THE WARRIORS. 



Taking oT Fort Teneria. 



and entered the work, which immediately surrendered. 
While a Mexican officer was praying for quarters, and 
calling out to McClung that he had surrendered, the 
gallant colonel received two severe wounds, being shot 
through the hand and body, and was caught by Lieu- 
tenant W. P. Townsend, of the Mississippi regiment, 
who supported him from falling. As the men rushed in, 
they beheld McClung and the Mexican officer, and 
thinking that the latter had shot him, the Mexican was 
immediately slain. On the arrival of Colonel Davis, 
who reached the distillery at the same time with 
McClung, by another entrance, he received the sword 
of another Mexican officer, who surrendered his com- 
mand to him. Five pieces of artillery, a considerable 
quantity of ammunition, and thirty prisoners, including 
three officers, here fell into our hands ; the prisoners 
were placed in charge of Lieutenant Armstrong. The 
brigade did not halt here, but moving on with rapidity, 
led by Colonel Davis, they prepared to charge the 
second fort, called El Diablo, about three hundred yards 
in the rear of the last work, when General Quitman 
ordered them to fall back, and they retired. 

Thus, after a most desperate and bloody conffict, of 
more than two hours, was one of the enemy's strong 
works carried by storm, notwithstanding the obstinate 
resistance they maintained. Considering that it was the 
first time that the troops of General Butler's division 
were ever brought into action — sustaining, as they did, 
a desperate struggle against a sheltered and inaccessible 
foe — unprotected and bared to the storm of the mur- 
derous artillery of the enemy, which, although it swept 
one-fifth of their number from the ranks, caused them 



JOHN A. QUITMAN. 269 

Quitman at the gate of Belen. 

not to shrink for an instant from a steady advance, 
proves to the world the undaunted gallantry of our 
citizen soldiers, who have won for themselves the repu- 
tation of veteran troops — the charge led by the Missis- 
sippi rifle regiment upon Fort Teneria, without bayonets, 
has gained for the state a triumph which stands unparal- 
leled. 

The spirit of the general was infused into the hearts 
of his men, and so devoted were they to their duty, that 
when once they had entered upon an achievement its 
accomplishment was certain. One of his men, a pri- 
vate, was wounded by a cannon ball. An orderly 
passing by him complied with his request for water, and 
asked if he could do any thing more for him. '* Yes, 
my friend," said the poor fellow, ^*you can take my 
musket back to the 3d. I am a dead man, but I would 
like my piece to go back to my old regiment." The 
musket was delivered, and the soldier died contented. 

It was General Quitman's glory to enter the city of 
Mexico by the most difficult pass, that of the gate of 
Belen, and to raise the star-spangled banner, for the first 
time, over the *' Halls of the Montezumas." General 
Scott says, 

"I had been, from the first, well aware that the 
western, or San Cosme, was the less difficult route to 
the centre and conquest of the capital ; and, therefore, 
intended that Quitman should only manceuver and 
threaten the Belen or south-western gate, in order to 
favour the main attack by Worth — knowing that the 
strong defenses at the Belen were directly under the 
guns of the much stronger fortress, called the citadel, 
just within. Both of these defenses of the enemy were 
23* 



270 THE WARRIORS. 

Quitman a'Uth.e gate of Belen. 

also within easy supporting distance from the San Angel 
(or JSTino Perdido) and San Antonio gates. Hence the 
greatest support, in numbers, given to Worth's move- 
ment as the main attack. 

Those views I repeatedly, in the course of the day, 
communicated to Major-General Quitman ; but, being 
in hot pursuit — gallant himself, and supported by Briga- 
dier-Generals Shields and Smith — Shields badly wound- 
ed before Chapultepec, and refusing to retire — as well 
as by all the officers and men of the column — Quitman 
continued to press forward, under flank and direct fires 
— carried an intermediate battery of two guns, and then 
the gate, before two o'clock in the afternoon, but not 
without proportionate loss, increased by his steady 
maintenance of that position. 

Quitman, within the city — adding several new de- 
fenses to the position he had won, and sheltering his 
corps as well as practicable — now awaited the return of 
daylight under the guns of the formidable citadel, yet 
to be subdued. 

In the night the Mexican army fled from the city, and 
I communicated, about daylight, orders to Worth and 
Quitman to advance slowly and cautiously, (to guard 
against treachery,) towards the heart of the city, and 
to occupy its stronger and more commanding points. 
Quitman proceeded to the great jo/crza, or square, planted 
guards, and hoisted the colours of the United States on 
the national palace — containing the halls of Congress 
and executive departments of federal Mexico." 




GENERAL PERSIFER F. SMITH. 

ENERAL Persifer F. Smith, " of Louis- 
iana," as he is generally designated, 
is a native of Philadelphia, and one of 
the bravest men and best soldiers in 
the army. He served in command of 
the Louisiana troops in the Florida war, and on 
the formation of the volunteer division was ap- 
pointed colonel of the rifles. In six months he 
was promoted to the rank of brigadier- general by 
brevet. This was for his services at Monterey. He 
led the right wing of Worth's division at the entering 
of that city, and fought his way through one street while 
Worth was engaged in the next with the other part of 
his division. This terrible warfare is thus described by 
S. C. Reid, Esq., in his work on the Scouting Expedi- 
tions of McCulloch's Texas Rangers. 

*' Every street was barricaded with heavy works of 
masonry, the walls being some three or four feet thick, 

(271) 




272 THE WARRIORS. 

Street figtrt in Monterey. 

with embrasures for one or more guns which raked the 
streets ; the walls of gardens and sides of houses were 
all loop-holed for musketry ; the tops of the houses were 
covered with troops, who were sheltered behind para- 
pets, some four feet high, upon which were piled sand 
bags for their better protection, and from which they 
showered down a hurricane of balls. 

Between three and four o'clock, from the cessation of 
the fire in the opposite direction, it was evident that the 
enemy had become disengaged, which enabled them to 
draw off men and guns to our side, as their fire had now 
become almost doubly increased. The street-fight be- 
came appalling — both columns were now closely engaged 
with the enemy, and steadily advanced inch by inch — • 
our artillery was heard rumbling over the paved streets, 
galloping here and there, as the emergency required, 
and pouring forth a blazing fire of grape and ball — volley 
after volley of musketry, and the continued peals of ar- 
tillery became almost deafening — the artillery of both 
sides raked the streets, the balls striking the houses with 
a terrible crash, while amid the roar of battle were heard 
the battering instruments used by the Texans. Doors 
were forced open, walls were battered down — entrances 
made through the longitudinal walls, and the enemy 
driven from room to room, and from house to house, 
followed by the shrieks of women, and the sharp crack 
of the Texan rifles. Cheer after cheer was heard in 
proud and exulting defiance, as the Texans or regulars 
gained the house-tops by means of ladders, while they 
poured in a rain of bullets upon the enemy on the oppo- 
site houses. It was indeed a most strange and novel 
scene of warfare." 



PERSIFER F. SMITH. 275 

Battle of Contxei-as. 

In history General Smith will be best known as the 
hero of Contreras. An article in the New York Courier 
and Inquirer, giving an account of this battle, contains 
the following passages. ^' About two p. m., as we had 
crawled to the top of a hill, whither we had been our- 
selves pulling Magruder's battery and the mountain 
howitzers, we suddenly espied Valencia fortified on a hill 
two hundred yards off, and strongly reinforced by a 
column which had just come out of the city. We lay 
down close to avoid drawing their fire, while the bat- 
tery moved past at a full gallop. Just then General 
Smith's manly voice rung out, ' Forward the rifles — to 
support the battery.'' On they went, till we got about 
eight hundred yards from the work, when the enemy 
opened upon them with his long guns, which were after- 
wards found to be sixteens and eight-inch howitzers. 
The ground was the worst possible for artillery, covered 
with rocks large and small, prickly pears and cactus, 
intersected by ditches filled with water and lined with 
maguey plant, itself imperviable to cavalry, and with 
patches of corn which concealed the enemy's skirmishers, 
while it impeded our own passage. The artillery ad- 
vanced but slowly, under a most tremendous fire, which 
greatly injured it before it could be got in range, and 
the thickness of the undergrowth caused the skirmishers 
thrown forward to lose their relative position, as well as 
the column. About four the battery got in position 
under a most murderous fire of grape, canister, and 
round shot. Here the superiority of the enemy's pieces 
rendered our fire nugatory. We could get but three 
pieces in battery, while they had twenty-seven, all of 
them three times the calibre of ours. For two hours 



276 THE WARRIORS. 

Battle of Contxeras. 

our troops stood the storm of iron and lead they hailed 
upon them, unmoved. At every discharge they laid flat 
down to avoid the storm, and then sprang up to serve the 
guns. At the end of that time, two of the guns were 
dismounted and we badly hurt ; thirteen of the 1 orses 
were killed and disabled, and fifteen of the cannoneers 
killed and wounded. The regiment was then recalled. 
The lancers had been repelled in three successive 
charges. The 3d infantry and 1st artillery had also 
engaged and successfully repelled the enemy's skir- 
mishers without loss of either officers or men. The 
greatest loss has been at the batteries. Officers looked 
gloomy for the first day's fight, but the brigade was 
formed, and General Smith in person took command. 
All felt revived, and followed him wuth a yell, as creep- 
ing low to avoid the grape, which was coming very fast, 
we made a circuit in rear of the batteries, and passing 
off to the right we were soon lost to view in the chapar- 
ral and cactus. Passing over the path that we scrambled 
through, behold us, at almost six o'clock in the evening, 
tired, hungry, and sorrowful, emerging from the cha- 
parral and crossing the road between it and Valencia. 
Here we found Cadwalader and his brigade already 
formed, and discovered Riley's brigade skirmishing in 
rear of the enemy's works. Valencia was ignorant of 
our approach, and we w^ere as yet safe. In front of us 
was Valencia strongly intrenched on a hill-side and sur- 
rounded by a regular field-work concealed from us by 
an orchard in our rear. Mendoza with a column of six 
thousand was in the road, but thinking us to be friends. 
On our right was a large range of hills, whose continued 
crest w^as parallel to the road, and in which were formed 



PERSIFER F. SMITH. 277 

Battle of Contreras. 

in line of battle live thousand of the best Mexican cav- 
alry. On our left we were separated from our own forces 
by an almost impassable wilderness, and it was now 
twilight. Even Smith looked round for help. Suddenly 
a thousand vivas came across the hill-side, like the yells 
of prairie wolves in the dead of night, and the squad- 
rons on our right formed for charging. Smith's himself 
again! ^ Face to the rear!' *Wait till you see their 
red caps, and then give it to them !' Furiously they 
came on a few yards, then changed their minds, and, 
disgusted at our cool reception, retired to their couches. 
****** 
At last, just at daylight. General Smith, slowly walk- 
ing up, asked if all was ready. A look answered him. 
^Men^ forward.^ And we did 'forward.' Springing up at 
once, Riley's brigade opened, when the crack of a hun- 
dred rifles started the Mexicans from their astonishment, 
and they opened their fire. Useless fire, for we were so 
close that they overshot us, and before they could turn 
their pieces on us we were on them. Then such cheers 
arose as you never heard. The men rushed forward 
like demons, yelling and firing the while. The carnage 
was frightful, and though they fired sharply it was of no 
use. The earthen parapet was cleared in an instant, 
and the blows of the stocks could be plainly heard, 
mingled with the yells and groans around. Just before 
the. charge was made, a large body of lancers came 
winding up the road, looking most splendidly in their 
brilliant uniforms. They never got to the work, but 
turned and fled. In an instant all was one mass of 
confusion, each trying to be foremost in the flight. The 
road was literally blocked up, and while many perished 

24 



278 THE WARRIORS. 



Battle of Contreras. 



by their own guns, it was almost impossible to fire on 
the mass, from the danger of killing our own men. 
Some fled up the ravine on the left, or on the right, and 
many of these were slain by turning their own guns on 
them. Toward the city the rifles and 2d infantry led 
off the pursuit. Seeing that a large crowd of the fugi- 
tives were jammed up in a pass in the road, some of 
our men ran through the corn-field, and by thus heading 
them off and firing down upon them, about thirty men 
took over five hundred prisoners, nearly a hundred of 
them officers. 

After disarming the prisoners, as the pursuit had 
ceased, we went back to the fort, where we found our 
troops in full possession, and the rout complete. 

Thus ended the glorious battle of Contreras, in which 
two thousand men, under General P. F. Smith, com- 
pletely routed and destroyed an army of eight thousand 
men, under General Valencia, with Santa Anna and a 
force of twenty thousand men within five miles. Their 
army was so completely routed that not fifteen hundred 
men rejoined Santa Anna, and participated in the second 
battle. 




GENERAL STEPHEN W. KEARNY. 



TEPHEN Watts Kearny was born at 
Newark, New Jersey, and educated 
at Princeton college,'where he was a 
student at the age of eighteen, when 
the war of 1812 commenced. Having 
determined to go into the army, he 
was appointed first lieutenant in the 
13th regiment of infantry, and at- 
tached to the company of the then Captain John E. Wool. 
He was engaged in the desperate fight of Scott at Queens- 
town, and was surrendered a prisoner at the end of it. 
After he was exchanged he served with honour through 
the war, and acquired such distinction as to retain his rank 
as captain during the army reductions of 1815 and 1821. 
Afterwards he was stationed at Jefferson Barracks, near 




24^ 



(281) 



282 THE WARRIORS. 



Anecdote. 



St. Louis. "While there, he acquired as wide spread a 
reputation for his tactics and severe discipline, as he had 
previously borne for coolness and composure under all 
circumstances. An anecdote related by Fayette Robin- 
son, Esq., in his extremely valuable new work on the 
Army of the United States, illustrates these qualities in 
the best manner. It is as follows : — ^' While stationed 
at Jefferson Barracks, General Kearny was drilling a 
brigade on one of the open fields near the post. The 
manoeuver w^as the siniple exercise of marching in line 
to the front. An admirable horseman, he sat with his 
face towards the troops, while the horse he rode, per- 
fectly trained, was backed in the same direction, along 
which the command was marched. At once the animal 
fell, fastening the rider to the ground by his whole 
weight. His brigade had been drilled to such a state 
of insensibility, that not one of them came to his assist- 
ance, nor was it necessary. The line advanced to within 
about ten feet of him, when, in a loud distinct voice, 
calmly as if he had been in the saddle under no un- 
usual circumstance, General Kearny gave the command, 
*■ Fourth company — obstacle — march.^ The fourth com- 
pany w^hich was immediately in front of him was flanked 
by its captain in the rear of the other half of the grand 
division. The line passed on, and when he was thus 
left in rear of his men, he gave the command, ^Fourth 
company into line — march."* He was not seriously injured, 
extricated himself from his horse, mounted again, passed 
to the front of the regiment, and executed the next 
manoeuver in the series he had marked out for the day's 
drill." 

He was soon afterwards (183 3) made lieutenant- 



STEPHEN W. KEARNY. 283 

Wounded at Sau Pasqual. 

colonel of dragoons, and had to perform the onerous 
duty of forming a new arm of the service. The efficiency 
of his training is exhibited in the bearing of the dra- 
goon regiments and the mounted rifles in the Mexican 
war. General Gaines has said that the first dragoons 
drilled by General Kearny were the best troops he ever 
saw. He served many years in the north-west, con- 
tinually acquiring valuable information for the govern- 
ment by his expeditions, which at the same time 
impressed the Indians with a respect for the United 
States government. In June, 1846, he received the rank 
of brigadier-general, and was sent out from Fort Leaven- 
worth on the expedition to New Mexico and Cali- 
fornia, the particulars of which we have before given. 
He exposed himself very much at the battle of San 
Pasqual, as he always does when there is danger near. 
He was severely wounded with a lance, and would have 
been killed had not Lieutenant Emory of the topogra- 
phical corps, rode up in time to shoot the enemy as he 
was about to make a second thrust. 

A dispute as to rank and authority occurred between 
himself and Commodore Stockton in California, by which 
the interests of the country in some hands might have 
been compromised. As it was, however, private disa- 
greements produced no public wrongs, and the question 
of rank is to be settled by the trial of Lieutenant-Colonel 
Fremont by a court martial, he having preferred to obey 
the commands of Commodore Stockton rather than those 
of General Kearny. 



iff 





COLONEL JOHN C. FREMONT. 

HE services of Colonel Fremont in his cele- 
brated expedition to Oregon, are too well 
; known to require recapitulation here, and 
his exploits in California have already been 
narrated. We propose merely to give in 
this connection some illustrations of his character, 
and to express a hope that the result of a court-martial, 
before which he is now being tried, at Washington, for 
alleged offences, growing out of the dispute between 
Commodore Stockton and General Kearny, may not 
change his pursuit in life. 

Pico, the brother of the governor of California, had 
been dismissed by the Americans on parole, and was 
recaptured in the act of breaking it. He was condemned 
by court-martial to death, and twelve o'clock was the 
hour fixed for his execution. The soldiers were cla- 
morous for his death as a traitor, but the gallant colonel 
could not bear the thought of killing an enemy in any 

(285) 



286 THE WARRIORS. 



Humanity triumphant over discipline. 



other way than on the battle-field, and he was meditat- 
ing upon the matter with a heavy heart, when a com- 
pany of ladies and children was led into the room, and 
on their knees begged the life of a husband and a father. 
The question was settled. Humanity triumphed over 
discipline and the laws of war. He raised the mother 
and exclaimed, "he is pardoned," and sent for the 
prisoner that he might learn his fate from the happy 
faces of his friends. He was overpowered with emo- 
tion. He had learned his fate with all the pride and 
dignity of a Spaniard, but he could not hear the news 
of pardon. He threw himself at the colonel's feet, 
swore eternal fidelity, and begged the privilege of fight- 
ing and dying for him. How firm a friend he has since 
been may be apparent from the subjoined account of 
Colonel Fremont's ride, taken from the National Intelli- 
gencer. They passed over eight hundred miles in eight 
days, including two days detention and all stoppages. 
Don Pico is called by his Christian name Jesus, pro- 
nounced Haisoos. 

" It was daybreak on the morning of the 22d of March, 
that the party set out from la Ciudad de los Angelos (the 
city of the Angels,) in tbe southern part of Upper Cali- 
fornia, to proceed in the shortest time to Monterey, on 
the Pacific ocean, distant full four hundred miles. The 
way is over a mountainous country, much of it unin- 
habited, with no other road than a trace, and many de- 
files to pass, particularly the maritime defile of El Rincon, 
or Punto Gordo, fifteen miles in extent, made by the 
jutting of a precipitous mountain into the sea, which 
can only be passed when the tide is out, and the sea 
calm, and even then in many places through the waves 



JOHN C. FREMONT. 287 

Extraordinary travelling. 

The towns of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo and 
occasional ranchos, are the principal inhabited places on 
the route. Each of the party had three horses, nine in 
all, to take their turns under the saddle. The six loose 
horses ran ahead without bridle or halter, and required 
some attention to keep to the track. 

When wanted for a change, say at distances of twenty 
miles, they were caught by the lasso^ thrown either by 
Don Jesus or the servant Jacob, who, though born and 
raised in Washington, in his long expeditions with 
Colonel Fremont had become as expert as a Mexican with 
the lasso, as sure as a mountaineer with the rifle, equal to 
either on horse or foot, and always a lad of courage and 
fidelity. None of the horses were shod, that being a 
practice unknown to the Californians. The most usual 
gait was a sweeping gallop. The first day they rode one 
hundred and twenty-five miles, passing the San Fernando 
mountain, the defile of the Rincon, several other moun- 
tains, and slept at the hospitable rancho of Don Tomas 
Robberis, beyond the town of Santa Barbara. The only 
fatigue complained of in this day's ride was in Jacob's 
right arm, made tired by throwing the lasso and using 
it as a whip to keep the loose horses to the track. 

The next day they made another one hundred and 
twenty-five miles, passing the formidable mountain of 
Santa Barbara, and counting upon it the skeletons of 
some fifty horses, part of near double that number which 
perished in the crossing of that terrible mountain by the 
California battalion on Christmas day, 1846, amidst a 
raging tempest, and a deluge of rain and cold more kill- 
ing than that of the Sierra Nevada — the day of severest 
suffering, say Fremont and his men, that they have ever 



288 THE WARRIORS. 

Extraordinary travelling. 

passed. At sunset the party stopped to sup with the 
friendly Captain Dana, and at nine San Luis Obispo was 
reached, the home of Don Jesus, where an affecting 
reception awaited Lieutenant-Colonel Fremont, in conse- 
quence of an incident which occurred there, that history 
wall one day record ;* and he was detained till eleven 
o'clock in the morning receiving the visits of the inhabit- 
ants, (mothers and children included,) taking a break- 
fast of honour, and waiting for a relief of fresh horses to 
be brought in from the surrounding country. 

Here the nine horses from los Angelos were left and 
eight others taken in their places, and a Spanish boy 
added to the party to assist in managing the loose 
horses. Proceeding at the usual gait till eight at night, 
and having made some seventy miles, Don Jesus, who 
had spent the night before with his family and friends, 
and probably with but little sleep, became fatigued, and 
proposed a halt for a few hours. It was in the valley 
of the Salinas, (Salt river, called Buena Ventura in the 
old maps,) and the haunt of marauding Indians. For 
safety during their repose, the party turned off the trace 
issued through a Canada into a thick wood, and lay 
down, the horses being put to grass at a short distance 
w^ith the Spanish boy in the saddle to watch. Sleep, 
when commenced, was too sweet to be easily given up, 
and it was half way between midnight and day when the 
sleepers were aroused by an estampedo among the horses 
and the calls of the boy. 

The cause of the alarm was soon found, not Indians, 
but white bears — ^this valley being their great resort, 

* The pardon narrated before. 



JOHN C. FREMONT. 289 

Extraordinary travelling. 

having encountered them in great numbers the pre- 
ceding year. The character of these bears is well 
known, and the bravest hunters do not like to meet 
them without the advantage of numbers. On dis- 
covering the enemy, Colonel Fremont felt for his 
pistols, but Don Jesus desired him to lie still, saying 
that "people could scare bears," and immediately he 
halloed at them in Spanish, and they went off. Sleep 
went off also, and the recovery of the horses frightened 
by the bears, building a rousing fire, making a breakfast 
from the hospitable supplies of San Luis Obispo, occu- 
pied the party till daybreak, when the journey was 
resumed. Eighty miles, and the afternoon brought the 
party to Monterey. 

The next day, in the afternoon, the party set out on 
their return, and the two horses ridden by Colonel Fre- 
mont from San Luis Obispo, being a present to him 
from Don Jesus, he (Don Jesus) desired to make an 
experiment of what one of them could do. They 
were brothers, one a grass younger than the other, both 
of the same colour, (cinnamon,) and hence called el 
canal or los canalos, (the cinnamon, or the cinnamons.) 
The elder brother was taken for the trial, and the jour- 
ney commenced upon him at leaving Monterey, the 
afternoon well advanced. Thirty miles under the sad- 
dle done that evening, and the party stopped for the 
night. In the morning the elder canalo was again under 
the saddle for Colonel Fremont, and for ninety miles he 
carried him w^ithout a change, and without apparent 
fatigue. It was still thirty miles to San Luis Obispo, 
where the night was to be passed, and Don Jesus insisted 
that canalo could easily do it, and so said the horse by 
T 



290 THE WARRIORS. 



Extraordinary ti-avelling. 



his looks and action. But Colonel Fremont would not 
put him to the trial, and, shifting the saddle to the 
younger brother, the elder was turned loose to run the 
remaining thirty miles without a rider. 

He did so, immediately taking the lead and keeping 
it all the way, and entering San Luis in a sweeping gal- 
lop, nostrils distended, snuffing the air and neighing with 
exultation of his return to his native pastures, his younger 
brother all the while running at the head of the horses 
under the saddle, bearing on his bit, and held in by his 
rider. The whole eight horses made their one hundred 
and twenty miles each that day, (after thirty the evening 
before,) the elder cinnamon making ninety of his under 
the saddle that day, besides thirty under the saddle the 
evening before ; nor was there the least doubt that he 
would have done the whole distance in the same time 
if he had continued under the saddle. 

After a hospitable detention of another half day at 
San Luis Obispo, the party set out for Los Angelos on 
the same nine horses which they had ridden from that 
place, and made the ride back in about the same time 
they had made it up, namely at the rate of one hundred 
and twenty-five miles a day." 




Majoi McCalloch. 





MAJOR BENJAMIN McCULLOCH. 

AJOR McCuLLocH was born in Rutherford 
county, Tennessee, in the year 1814. 
His father had seen service under Ge- 
neral Jackson in the Creek war. He 
removed for a time to Alabama, but 
Benjamin remained in Tennessee at 
school for some years, when his father returned to the 
western part of that state, and Benjamin lived with him 
employed in hunting until he was twenty-one. 

In the campaign on the Rio Grande, he told an anec- 
dote of this portion of his life, which we give as we find 
it in Reid's Scouting Expeditions. " While speaking 
about the course we had travelled, and referring to our 
compass, Captain McCulloch related the following anec- 
dote : 

25* (293) 



294 THE WARRIORS. 

Anecdote. 

" An old woodman," said he, *' seldom wants a com- 
pass so long as he can see the sun, and even when it is 
cloudy you can always tell where the sun is,, by a slight 
shadow from objects, be it ever so obscured. I recollect 
once I went a hunting with a gentleman and my father, 
and crossing the river in a boat, we hauled it up on 
the shore, and put out into the woods. Well, we did 
not meet with much luck, and so we put back for the 
boat. It was a cloudy day and the gentleman carried a 
pocket compass with him, and pointed out our course 
back. We followed the direction for some time, but 
could see no river. That we were lost was now beyond 
a doubt. And father becoming tired of following the 
course of the gentleman's compass, determined to be 
guided by it no longer. 

'^ * Well, it is strange,' said the gentleman, * the com- 
pass canH be wrong!' 

'< ' D — n the compass,' said father, ' my boy Ben is 
worth all the compasses I ever saw ;' and, turning to me, 
said, * if you don't take us right straight to that boat, 
Ben, you shall never go on another hunt.' 

" So I took a straight shoot, just by guessing the way 
the woods ran, and brought them to the boat, sure 
enough ! As we were stepping in the boat, the gen- 
tleman said, with a laugh — 

" Well, that boy Ben of yours, Mr. McCulloch, is a 
perfect magnetic needle. He will make as great a 
geographer as his celebrated namesake.' " 

He would kill eighty bears in a winter. When he 
became of age, he set out for St. Louis, in order to join 
in an expedition for the Rocky mountains. In 1835, 
he wished to join Colonel David Crockett, in an expe- 



BENJAMIN MCCULLOCH. 295 

His personal appearance. 

dition that was about to take part in the Texas revolu- 
tion, but the colonel went sooner than McCulloch had 
supposed, and he set out to follow him. At the river 
Brazos, he was taken very ill and did not recover until 
after the fall of the Alamo. He went on, however, and 
was made captain of a gun in the army of Texas under 
General Houston, which he served with effect in the mem- 
orable battle of San Jacinto. He served in all the border 
warfare of the day, and was present at the taking of 
Mier, though he returned home directly afterwards, and 
thus escaped the fate of his comrades. 

In the Mexican war he has been as useful as any man 
in the American army ; his scouting expeditions being 
among the boldest achievements of the war. " He is a 
man of delicate frame, five feet ten inches in height, 
with light hair and complexion. His features are rather 
regular and pleasing, though from long exposure on the 
frontier they have a weather-beaten cast. His quick 
and bright blue eye, wdth a mouth of thin compressed 
lips, indicate the cool, calculating, as well as the brave 
and daring energy of the man." This is the description 
given of him by S. C. Reid, Esq., in his account of the 
gallant captain's scouting expeditions. 

We quote Mr. Reid's account of some incidents 
in the cavalry fight with which General Worth com- 
menced the battle at Monterey, as it illustrates the 
Rangers' desperate yet chivalric method of fighting. 
'^Armstrong, one of our company, was unhorsed by a 
lancer, having received two wounds ; yet on foot, with 
sword in hand he defended himself against two of the 
enemy. He killed one, when an Irishman from the 
artillery battalion discovered his situation, and saying 



296 THE WARRIORS. 

Tiie Eangers' at Monterey. 

that he did not know whether he had buck or hall in, as 
he drew up his musket, but that he had better kill them 
both, than to miss the Mexican, fired and saved the 
Ranger ! Fielding Alston, and J. F. Minter, also of our 
company, while fighting gallantly received two lance 
wounds. Young Musson of New Orleans, who had 
joined our corps, was engaged at the same time, with a 
captain of cavalry, hand to hand in a sword fight, and 
at one time became very nearly overpowered ; when 
asked why he did not shoot his foe, replied, with true 
southern chivalry, that " the Mexican had no pistol, and 
it would have been taking an advantage over him !" As 
another of our men was being overcome by a Mexican, 
the gallant Captain Cheshire, a private in the Rangers, 
dashed up to his rescue, and having no fire, seized a 
holster pistol, and with the butt end of it, felled the 
Mexican to the ground.' 




Captain Walker. 




CAPTAIN SAMUEL H. WALKER. 




APTAiN Walker entered the Ame- 
rican service with a reputation 
early established by his services 
in the cause of the gallant state 
of Texas. A native of Maryland, 
he left his residence in Washing- 
ton city to serve in the Creek 
war, after which he passed a campaign against the Indians 
in Florida, and was for awhile superintendent of a rail- 
road. In 1842 he emigrated to Texas and served in 
her operations against Mexico with honour. He was one 
of Colonel Fisher's company of three hundred men in 
the famous Mier expedition. He was captured while 
on a scout before the Texan army reached that place, 
and after his comrades were defeated, they w^ere all 
inarched together to Matamoras, thence to Perote castle, 
on their way to the capital. As they proceeded, their 

(299) 



300 THE WARRIORS. 

Escajies from Peroto. 

treatment became daily more and more cruel, and at 
Salado they determined to revolt and escape. Headed 
by Walker and Cameron, a Scotchman, each of whom 
seized and overpowered one of the sentinels, at the 
inner door of the prison yard, they rushed into the 
outer court where a hundred and fifty Mexican infantry 
were guarding the arms and cartridge boxes. These 
were soon driven out, and the Texans armed themselves 
while the Mexican cavalry and infantry formed at the 
gate. The brave band of prisoners charged through them, 
killing ten, wounding more of them, losing ten of their 
own men, five killed and five wounded. They escaped 
but lost their way, became involved in the mountains by 
false information, starved almost to death, and were finally 
recaptured. They were taken to Salado, where Santa 
Anna ordered every tenth man to be shot. Among 
those thus murdered was the gallant Scotchman, Cam- 
eron. Walker afterwards made his escape Trom Ta- 
cubaya, Santa Anna's residence, and after suffering 
hardships enough to have killed almost anyone else, he 
arrived safe at New Orleans. In one month he returned 
to Texas, and served in Hays's command, until General 
Taylor went to the Rio Grande, when he went thither 
to offer the services of Captain Gillespie's company in 
which he was a private. He found there some thirty of 
the old Rangers who had followed the army from Corpus 
Christi, in hopes to see a little ^ fun,' and they urged 
him to form a company.. General Taylor gave him per- 
mission to do so, after the murder of Colonel Cross, and 
the company of Texas Rangers was speedily organized. 
The services of this brave band are too well known 
and appreciated to require recounting here. There are 



SAMUEL H. WALKER. 301 

His death. 

few officers in the army who possess a greater share of 
popular affection than Captain Walker enjoyed, and his 
recent death at Huamantla cast a feeling of sorrow over 
the whole country. General Lane says in his official 
account of the battle : — " This victory is saddened by the 
loss of one of the most chivalric, noble-hearted men that 
graced the profession of arms — Captain Samuel H. 
Walker of the mounted riflemen. Foremost in the 
advance, he had routed the enemy when he fell mortally 
wounded. In his death the service has met with a loss 
which cannot be repaired." 

In the same battle. Surgeon Lamar was at the side of 
Captain Walker when the charge was made, and was 
saved by the devoted act of Walker's slave David, who 
caught at the lance aimed at him and received it him- 
self. He died in a few minutes, as he probably would 
have wished, after the death of his master. In death as 
in life, they were together. 



26 




Colonel Hays. 





COLONEL JOHN COFFEE HAYS. 

OLONEL Hays is twenty-nine years of 
age, about five feet eight inches in 
height, with a complexion once fair, 
but now weatherbeaten and dark, dark 
. brown hair, a hazel eye, broad fore- 
head, Roman nose, large mouth, and 
a thoughtful, careworn expression, amounting to a frown, 
always upon his face, which as a whole expresses the 
utmost firmness and determination on the part of its 
possessor. His adventures would fill a large volume. 
He was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, emigrated to 
Texas, as a surveyor, at the age of nineteen, and soon 
became distinguished as a successful Indian fighter, as 
U 26* (305) 



306 THE WARRIORS. 



Anecdote. 



well among the Indians themselves as among the Texans. 
He was made commander of the frontier with the rank 
of major in 1840. A story is told of his having defended 
himself alone, for three hours against a large party of 
Indians on the top of the Enchanted Rock, a hill on 
the frontier of Texas. He had his rifle and " five shooter," 
and the Indians knew their man so well, that for a long 
time he had only to raise his rifle when they approached 
and they would drop back. At length becoming exas- 
perated, they determined on taking this '^ devil Jack," 
as they called him, and he laid several of them low. 
As two or three of them would rush up to the spot where 
he had intrenched himself, he would shoot them, reload 
in the pause that would follow, and give the next cus- 
tomer a similar reception. At last, just as they were 
determined to take him at any cost, his men having 
learned his danger by the report of his rifle, came to 
his relief. A battle ensued, the Indians were routed, 
and Captain Jack was more firmly believed to bear a 
charmed life than ever. 

One day talking with some chiefs at San Antonio, one 
of them asked him why he so often went out alone, in- 
curring danger without a chance of aid. Another Indian 
answered for him. *' Blue Wing and I," pointing to 
his companion, -*' no fraid to go to hell together — Captain 
Jack, great brave — no fraid to go to hell by himself." 
By which handsome compliment he meant to imply that 
Hays was not afraid to face any danger or death alone. 

The following anecdote of a ranger will show to what 
an extent he carries his discipline, and perhaps develop 
the secret of his success as a partisan soldier. At the 
time the advance of General Worth's division had 



JOHN COFFEE HAYS. 307 

Anecdote. 

reached the foot of the hill, on which stood the Bishop's 
Palace, before his attempt to capture the heights around, 
and while the enemy were raining grapeshot among his 
command from Federation hill and Independence hill. 
One of the rangers was ordered by Colonel Hays to 
ascend a large tree, in the corn-field, and reconnoiter the 
Mexican infantry. The ranger reported, that the enemy 
kept their position, without any seeming intention of 
advancing ; and receiving no order to descend, being 
within direct range of the enemy battery, and the shot 
flying high, he asked the colonel if he should come down. 

"No, sir," said Hays, "wait for orders." 

Soon after, the Texans were directed to return, when 
they moved rapidly off, leaving the ranger up the tree ; 
and Hays's attention being called to the fact, he ran 
back, and cried out, 

"Holloa, there — where are the Mexicans?" 

" Going back up the hill," replied the ranger, with- 
out knowing who it was that addressed him. 

"Well, hadn't you better come down from there?" 
,said Hays. 

" I don't know," said the ranger, " I am waiting for 
orders." 

" Well, then, I order you down," said Hays. 

The ranger discovering it to be his colonel, without 
waiting for a second call, like Martin Scott's coon, 
forthwith descended from the tree. 





COLONEL W. H. WATSON. 

N the prime of life, Colonel William H. 
Watson left his home and his profession 
as a lawyer, in Baltimore city, and enrolled 
%^ his name among the patriots who were de- 
fending by arms his country's rights. He 
performed well his duty : he fulfilled all that the most 
sanguine of his friends expected of him, and when he 
fell, there was a calm triumphant smile upon his face 
that spoke a double victory — one over his country's ene- 
mies, and the other over the great destroyer himself. So 
much was he esteemed in his native city, that when the 
news of his fall was received, the flags of the shipping 
were lowered halfmast, the different military and civic 
societies were convened to pay tributes to his memory 
and worth. At the meeting of the members of the bar, 
J. V. L. McMahon, Esq., offered a number of resolu- 
tions, among which was the following testimonial of the 
excellence of his private character. 

(309) 



310 THE WARRIORS. 

His gallantry. 

** Resolved^ That while we deplore the loss of a youth- 
ful warrior, whose patriotism, courage, and untiring 
energy, gave the brightest promise to his country, we 
most deeply mourn the death of one who, as a member 
of this bar, was respected by all for his professional 
bearing, and loved by those who best knew him, for the 
warmth and steadfastness of his friendship." 

The gallantry with which he led his beloved Balti- 
more battalion to victory, has been well described by 
one of its officers whose letter we quote. 

" I saw Colonel Watson shouting, but as to hearing a 
command, that was an impossibility, owing to the deaf- 
ening roar of the cannon and musketry. I saw the 
head of our line changing its direction, and I knew at 
once that the point of attack was changed, and ran to 
the head of my company to intercept the head of the 
column. I reached it just as Colonel Watson was dis- 
mounting from his horse, which the next moment fell 
from a shot. The colonel cried out to his men, * Shelter 
yourselves, men, the best way you can.' At this time, 
the battalion was scattered over a space of about an acre, 
and the men were lying down, the shot in most instances 
flying over our heads ; but the guns were soon depressed 
and the shot began to take effect. 

I was lying close to Colonel Watson, alongside of a 
hedge, when he jumped up and cried out, ' Now's the 
time, boys, follow me.' We were now in a street or 
lane, with a few houses on either side, and within a 
hundred yards of three batteries which completely raked 
it, in addition to which, two twelve-pound guns were 
planted in the castle on the right, and completely enfi- 
laded the whole distance we had to make. Add to this, 



WILLIAM H, WATSON. 311 

The Baltimore battalion. 

the thousand musketeers on the house-tops, and in the 
barricades at the head of the street up which we ad- 
vanced, and at every cross street, and you may form 
some idea of the deluge of balls poured upon us. (Bear 
in mind that the four companies of regulars were now 
with us, the one intermingled with the other.) Onward 
we went, men and horses falling at every step. Cheers, 
shrieks, groans, and words of command added to the 
din, whilst the roar of the guns was absolutely deafening. 

We had advanced up the street under this awful and 
fatal fire, nearly two hundred yards, when we reached a 
cross street, at the corner of which all who had suc- 
ceeded in getting this far alive, halted, as if by mutual 
consent. I was shaking Colonel Watson by the hand, 
while he was complimenting me, when a shower of 
grape, round, and canister shot came from the corner 
above, and five officers fell, and I do not know how 
many privates. Each man sought some place of appa- 
rent shelter. 

I sat down on the ground, with my back to the wall 
of a house. On my left were two men torn nearly to 
pieces. One of them was lying flat on his back, with 
his legs extending farther into the street than mine. 
Crash came another shower of grape, which tore one of 
his wounded legs off. He reared up, shrieked, and fell 
back a corpse. I never moved, for I was satisfied that 
one place was as safe as another. Directly opposite to 
me was my brevet 2d Lieutenant Aisquith ; on the right 
hand corner was Lieutenant Bowie, also of my company ; 
and close to me sat Colonel Watson and Adjutant Schae- 
ler. In a few minutes, I saw our colour-sergeant, old 
Hart, come past with his right arm shattered, (it has 



312 THE WARRIOR 



The Baltii©.ore battalion. 



since been amputated,) and in a few minutes, there 
came our battalion flag, borne by one of the colour- 
guards, our glorious stars and stripes ; and, note this^ 
that it was the first American flag in the city of Monte- 
rey — an honour w^hich we know belongs to our bat- 
talion. * * * * Above, below, alongside, between legs 
and arms, every where the balls whistled and howled. 
The air seemed cut to pieces by the quantity that the 
artillery hurled at us, and it would be childish to tell 
how close they came to me, and what and how many 
escapes I had. I was exposed to shot in that fight for 
nine hours. * * * * Colonel Watson met with a gallant 
soldier's death — his face to the foe. His loss is deplored 
by all who know his generosity of heart and chivalry 
of character. To me, individually, it is great, but to 
the battalion it is irreparable." 




General Scott. 





GMERAL WINFIELD SCOTT. 

HE genial soil of the Old Dominion, noble, 

brave, patriotic Virginia, which has given 

to the republic a host of illustrious names, 

in the senate, the army, and on the ocean, 

was the birthplace also of the gallant 

soldier whose life forms the subject of the present sketch. 

Winfield Scott was born June 13th, 1786, at the 

family seat, near Petersburg. His parents were of 

Scottish descent. 

Of his earlier years but little is known out of the 
circle of his family. He chose the legal profession, and 
finished his studies at about his twenty-first year. His 
disposition for military pursuits manifested itself about 
the same time. The proclamation of the president, 
issued after the dastardly attack on the Chesapeake, 

(315) 



316 THE -WARRIORS. 



Taken prisoner'at Queenstown. 



having induced the formation of volunteer corps in 
various parts of the country, Scott enrolled himself in 
the troop of horse raised in Petersburg. This was in 
1807. 

Early in the succeeding year he obtained a commis- 
sion as captain in the light artillery corps of the United 
States army. During the four years intervening before 
the declaration of war, he continued in this rank, but 
nothing occurred to break the monotony of a soldier's 
life in time of peace. 

On the breaking out of hostilities with England, he 
was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the 
2d regiment of artillery, and ordered to Black Rock, 
where lieutenant, afterwards Commodore, Elliott, and 
himself co-operated in cutting out two British armed brigs, 
anchored under the guns of Fort Erie. 

On the 13th of October, 1812, he was taken prisoner 
in the battle of Queenstown, after resisting with three 
hundred, an army of enemies numbering thirteen hundred. 

During the battle he had been conspicuous for daring 
courage and perfect coolness and self-possession. His 
tall and commanding form made him a constant mark 
for the Indian sharp shooters, who vainly tried to hit 
him. So great was their exasperation at their want of 
success, that after the battle they could with difficulty 
be restrained from committing violence to his person, 
and it was found necessary to place him under a close 
guard. 

Having been exchanged, he rejoined the army in 
May, 1813, and shortly afterwards won the battle of 
Fort George. He was the first to enter the fort and 
pull down the British flag, closely followed by Colonel 



WINFIELD SCOTT. 317 

In the battles of Chippewa and Niagara. 

Porter, who exclaimed, " Confound your long legs, 
Scott, you have got in before me." 

On the 9th of March, 1814, he was promoted to the 
rank of brigadier-general. In that capacity he fought in 
the battle of Chippewa. He was ever where the balls 
flew thickest. During the battle, he called out to a bat- 
talion, " The enemy say we are good at longshot, but 
cannot stand the cold iron. I call on the 11th instantly 
to give the lie to that slander. Charge!" The charge 
thus ordered decided the day. In the battle of Niagara, 
which soon followed. General Scott had two horses 
killed under him, received a wound in the side in the 
midst of the action, and was afterwards dangerously 
wounded in the shoulder. For many weeks he suffered 
from the wounds received on this day. Congress passed 
a vote of thanks for his skill and gallantry at Chippewa 
and Niagara, and for his uniform good conduct through- 
out the war, a compliment paid by Congress to no other 
officer. A gold medal was also voted to him by Con- 
gress. This medal General Scott afterwards deposited 
in the City Bank of New York for safe keeping. The 
bank was entered and robbed of two hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars, but the gold medal was left. The 
robber afterwards said, when arrested, that in taking the 
gold beside it, he saw the medal, and knew its value, 
but scorned to rob a man of the reward given by the 
gratitude of his country for distinguished services. The 
states of New York and Virginia each voted him thanks 
and a sword. After the close of the war. General Scott 
visited Europe. 

He took part in the Black Hawk war, the part of a 
nurse in the hospitals, where he watched with the utmost 
27* 



318 THE WARRIORS. 



Hemoves the Gharokee Indians. 



solicitude, while sick himself, the bedsides of the many 
unfortunate soldiers who were sick with the cholera. 

In the days of the nullification question he prepared 
to stand by General Jackson in the preservation of the 
Union, but took care by his bearing to conciliate rather 
than exasperate the people of South Carolina. In the 
Florida war he was unfortunate, devastating diseases 
and the lateness of the season preventing his meeting 
the enemy, though his plan of campaign was well de- 
vised, and prosecuted with zeal, energy, steadiness, 
and ability. 

During the winter of 1838-9, he was occupied on 
the Canada frontier, every where by turns, without an 
army, travelling principally by night, with the thermo- 
meter ranging from ten to forty degrees below the freez- 
ing point. He made speeches to excited sympathizing 
Americans with arms in their hands, scattered along a 
line of eight hundred miles, and with the happiest effect. 
To the firmness of President Van Buren, and the signal 
ability of General Scott the country owed its exemption 
from what appeared to be the inevitable war with Great 
Britain. 

By his masterly skill and energy he also saved the 
country from difficulties with the Cherokees, whom he 
removed to the west. By obtaining the esteem and con- 
fidence of the poor Cherokees themselves, his noble 
generosity and humanity effected what all supposed 
could not be done without the most heartrending scenes 
of butchery and bloodshed. The Indians, who a few 
months before were ready to yield their lives rather than 
leave their homes, looked upon the very man who had 



WINFIELD SCOTT. 319 

His military genius. 

executed the obnoxious measure, as a benefactor and 
friend who had saved them from entire destruction. 

His country found his services invaluable in the 
settlement of the Maine boundary question. When he 
was ordered to command the invading army in Mexico, 
he obeyed the call with his usual promptness, notwith- 
standing a coolness that had existed for some time be- 
tween him and the government. From his landing at 
Vera Cruz till the capture of the capital, his history has 
been detailed in the preceding pages. Where the 
danger is greatest he is always to be found, regardless 
of his life, and only anxious for the safety of his men. 
Walking along the trenches at Vera Cruz, in full range 
of the enemy's guns, he noticed the soldiers rise fre- 
quently and look over the parapet. "Down, down, 
men," he exclaimed, " don't expose yourselves." "But, 
general, you are exposed." " Oh," he replied, " generals 
now-a-days can be made out of any body, men cannot 
be had." 

His military genius and foresight has shown out con- 
spicuously during his last campaign. With signal tact 
he planned the details of all his battles, and prepared 
with prophetic eye to follow up his victories even before 
they were gained. In a few short weeks, in the face of 
gloomy apprehensions and predictions, he seizes the 
impregnable key to the high road to the capital, storms 
the Thermopylse of the country, and consummates the 
work by an achievement, that it is impossible to over- 
rate, the taking of the capital. All honour to Scott, his 
officers, and his men. 



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